[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":195},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content-\u002Fen\u002Flearn\u002Fblog\u002Fsoft-personalized-intelligent-how-the-s300x-liq21-or-liq11-is-revolutioning-prosthetic-interfaces":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"blocks":6,"body":175,"category":181,"date":182,"description":183,"extension":184,"image":185,"isDraft":169,"isMenu":169,"isOutfit":169,"isPage":169,"lang":187,"meta":188,"metaTitle":5,"navigation":28,"path":189,"seo":190,"stem":191,"translationKey":192,"type":193,"__hash__":194},"content\u002Fen\u002F6.learn\u002F1.blog\u002Fsoft-personalized-intelligent-how-the-s300x-liq21-or-liq11-is-revolutioning-prosthetic-interfaces.md","Soft, personalized, intelligent: how the S300X – LIQ21 | LIQ11 is revolutioning prosthetic interfaces?",[7,16,26,56,59,63,69,71,76,81,86,89,93,96,101,103,106,110,113,116,119,123,126,129,132,137,140,144,147,150,154,157,160,170],{"type":8,"title":9,"subtitle":10,"paragraph":11,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12,"image":13},"BackgroundBottomBlurText","Soft, personalized, intelligent.","how the S300X – LIQ21 | LIQ11 is revolutioning prosthetic interfaces?","\u003Cp>Every patient has a unique anatomy. So why settle for a standard prosthetic? That's the challenge the BioRobotics Institute team at Sant'Anna is tackling, combining 3D scanning and silicone printing to manufacture prosthetic liners as precise as they are innovative. We take you inside their laboratory.\u003C\u002Fp>","",{"alt":14,"src":15},"Upper limb silicone 3D printed","upper limb 1 - bandeau.webp",{"type":17,"colors":18,"subTitleGTAmerica":12,"subtitle":21,"nbZones":22,"paragraph":25},"Highlights",{"background":19,"front":20},"grey25","greyLynxter","key points",[23,24],"1","4","\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Custom-fit prosthetics\u003C\u002Fstrong>: Lynxter's S300X - LIQ21 | LIQ11 silicone 3D printer lets the Sant'Anna team manufacture fully personalized prosthetic liners straight from 3D scans of the patient's limb, faster and more precisely than traditional moulding.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Embedded sensors and local stiffness control: \u003C\u002Fstrong>the technology allows EMG sensor housings to be printed directly into the liner, and stiffness to be locally tuned to improve comfort and reduce pressure points.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Biocompatibility and future outlook: \u003C\u002Fstrong>the silicones used are certified for skin contact (ISO 10993), paving the way for personalized medical devices: wearables, soft robotics, surgical models, and AI-driven personalization.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>",{"type":27,"isAProductName":28,"subTitleGTAmerica":29,"subtitle":12,"nbZones":30,"zones":33},"ProductsCarousel",true,"The Sant’Ana research team",[31,32],"3","6",[34,40,45,51],{"title":12,"buttonTitle":35,"buttonLink":36,"image":37},"maria grazia p.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fmaria-grazia-polizzotto-660b63220\u002F",{"alt":38,"src":39},"maria grazia","mariagraziapolizzotto.webp",{"title":12,"buttonTitle":41,"buttonLink":42,"image":43},"Anubhay tyagi","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fanubhav-tyagi-82770921b\u002F",{"alt":41,"src":44},"anubhaytyagi.webp",{"title":12,"buttonTitle":46,"buttonLink":47,"image":48},"Linda paterno","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Flinda-patern%C3%B2-423ab61a3\u002F",{"alt":49,"src":50},"Linda Paterno","lindapaterno.webp",{"title":12,"buttonTitle":52,"buttonLink":53,"image":54},"Fransceco Antonelli","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ffrancesco-antonelli1\u002F",{"alt":52,"src":55},"francescoantonelli.webp",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":12,"paragraph":58,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"TextLeft","\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Maria Grazia Polizzotto\u003C\u002Fstrong>, PhD student, Surgical robotics and allied technologies area of the BioRobotics Institute of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Anubhav Tyagi\u003C\u002Fstrong>, Research Fellow, Surgical robotics and allied technologies area of the BioRobotics Institute of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Linda Paternò\u003C\u002Fstrong>, Assistant Professor, Surgical robotics and allied technologies area of the\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsurgicalrobotics.santannapisa.it\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> BioRobotics Institute of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Francesco Antonelli\u003C\u002Fstrong>, MSc Thesis Student, Surgical robotics and allied technologies area of the BioRobotics Institute of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":60,"subtitle":61,"paragraph":62,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"1.technolology adoption","What scientific or technological challenges led you to explore silicone 3D printing?","\u003Cp>Our research activities focus on the development of soft, patient-specific, and functionally adaptive structures for prosthetic and wearable physical human–machine interfaces. A major research direction concerns the 3D printing of prosthetic liners, namely the soft silicone socks worn over the residual limb and underneath the prosthetic socket. The socket is the rigid structural component of limb prostheses responsible for load transmission and biomechanical support, establishing the physical interface and biomechanical coupling between the user and the artificial limb. Starting from a 3D scan of the patient’s residual limb, this approach enables the fabrication of highly personalized liners tailored to the individual anatomy and needs of each user. Beyond customization, additive manufacturing also offers the opportunity to facilitate the integration of sensing and actuation functionalities directly within the liner structure, as explored in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsurgicalrobotics.santannapisa.it\u002Feliner-project\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">eLiner project\u003C\u002Fa>, funded by INAIL (National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work) (Fig. 1). Embedded actuation systems could dynamically adjust local pressure distributions to improve comfort, fit, and long-term wearability, while integrated sensors could monitor physiological and biomechanical parameters at the limb interface, such as pressure, temperature, or skin conditions, as well as provide useful information for prosthesis control. Importantly, many of these sensing and actuation components can themselves be manufactured through soft 3D-printing processes, enabling the development of fully customized, multifunctional, and intelligent prosthetic interfaces.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":64,"image":65,"imageCaption":68},"CenterImage",{"alt":66,"src":67},"Figure 1 Workflow for Patient Specific Liner Fabrication","santanna_step-web.webp","Figure 1. Workflow for Patient Specific Liner Fabrication",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":12,"paragraph":70,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"\u003Cp>While conventional manufacturing techniques for prosthetic liners, such as moulding and casting, are mature, reliable, and widely adopted in industrial practice, they can be less suited to rapid design iterations and may become cumbersome when highly personalized geometries or integrated functionalities are required. In this context, silicone 3D printing represents a promising alternative, enabling the direct fabrication of soft, flexible, and anatomically conformable structures while eliminating dependence on complex mould-making procedures. This approach facilitates a more anatomy-driven design process and significantly accelerates the transition from digital design to physical prototype. Furthermore, additive manufacturing supports a more sustainable and resource-efficient development workflow. By depositing material only where needed, 3D printing minimizes material waste, reduces the number of manufacturing steps, and shortens production times. These advantages are particularly valuable in both research and clinical prototyping activities, where designs often require multiple iterations to accommodate patient-specific anatomy, targeted mechanical properties, the integration of sensing or actuation systems, and evolving clinical or experimental requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":72,"paragraph":73,"buttonTitle":74,"buttonLink":75},"What criteria motivated your choice of the S300X – LIQ21 | LIQ11 for your research activities? ","\u003Cp>The S300X – LIQ21 | LIQ11(Fig. 2) was particularly attractive for our research activities because it has been specifically designed for the additive manufacturing of silicone and elastomeric materials, rather than being a general-purpose 3D printer adapted for soft-material processing. An important advantage is its compatibility with medical-grade silicones, including materials certified for skin-contact applications according to ISO 10993 standards, making the platform especially relevant for healthcare and prosthetic applications. Its capability to process silicone, combined with independent dual extrusion technology and the use of soluble support materials, enables the fabrication of complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible to achieve through conventional manufacturing methods. \u003C\u002Fp>","more about silicone 3d printer","https:\u002F\u002Flynxter.com\u002Fen\u002F3d-printers\u002Fspecialized\u002Fs300x-liq21-or-liq11-liquid",{"type":64,"image":77,"imageCaption":80},{"alt":78,"src":79},"S300X - LIQ21 | LIQ11 silicone 3D printer","s300x-santana-w4eb.webp","Figure 2. S300X - LIQ21 | LIQ11 silicone 3D printer",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":82,"paragraph":83,"buttonTitle":84,"buttonLink":85},"Which features or capabilities of this technology were particularly important for your team?","\u003Cp>The most important capabilities for our team are the direct printing of flexible silicone components, the ability to fabricate complex geometries, the repeatability and process control required for experimental research, and the possibility of tailoring mechanical behaviour through both material selection and design strategies.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>By controlling the internal infill architecture, printed parts can be designed with locally customized stiffness properties, which is highly relevant for human–machine interfaces and wearable applications. In our field, this capability is particularly valuable for patient-specific prosthetic liners, where region-dependent stiffness could help reduce pressure and stress concentrations on sensitive areas of the residual limb while maintaining adequate support and load transfer in other regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Achieving this level of spatial control is challenging with conventional moulding techniques, especially for large, thin-walled structures such as lower-limb prosthetic liners. In addition, these components can be difficult to demould without damaging the final part. In this context, silicone 3D printing offers a more direct, flexible, and design-driven manufacturing approach, enabling rapid prototyping, personalized solutions, and the fabrication of structures with locally optimized mechanical properties.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>","download our design guide","silicone-guide",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":87,"paragraph":88,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"How does silicone 3D printing complement the manufacturing technologies already available in your laboratory? ","\u003Cp>Silicone 3D printing complements established manufacturing technologies such as rigid additive manufacturing, moulding, casting, and machining by enabling the direct fabrication of soft, compliant, and functional elastomeric components. While rigid 3D printing remains essential for the production of structural elements, fixtures, enclosures, and testing equipment, silicone printing provides unique capabilities for the fabrication of soft interfaces, deformable structures, contact surfaces, wearable devices, and biomedical prototypes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Rather than replacing existing manufacturing methods, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flynxter.com\u002Fen\u002F3d-printers\u002Fspecialized\u002Fs300x-liq21-or-liq11-liquid\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">S300X – LIQ21 | LIQ11\u003C\u002Fa> significantly expands the laboratory’s design and prototyping capabilities. This combination of manufacturing approaches supports the creation of more functional, biomimetic, and application-specific prototypes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":90,"subtitle":91,"paragraph":92,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"2. Research Areas & Applications","What are the main research areas supported by this technology?","\u003Cp>The technology supports a wide range of research areas in which softness, flexibility, anatomical conformity, and functional compliance are key design requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In the field of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flynxter.com\u002Fen\u002Findustries-and-applications\u002Fapplications\u002Fsoft-robotics-and-electronics\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">soft robotics\u003C\u002Fa>, it enables the fabrication of compliant structures, soft mechanisms, and deformable actuation components. In the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flynxter.com\u002Fen\u002Findustries-and-applications\u002Findustries\u002Fhealthcare\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">healthcare\u003C\u002Fa> domain, it is particularly relevant for prosthetics, orthotics, wearable technologies, and rehabilitation devices, where customized soft interfaces play a crucial role in improving comfort, fit, safety, and overall functional performance.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":94,"paragraph":95,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"What types of applications or demonstrators are you currently developing? ","\u003Cp>Current prototypes developed within our laboratory include soft human–machine interfaces, with a particular focus on patient-specific prosthetic liners for both upper- and lower-limb applications.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In prosthetics, the silicone liner plays a fundamental role in establishing a soft and compliant interface between the residual limb and the prosthetic device. Comfort, compliance, fit, and manufacturing repeatability are critical factors, as even small variations in geometry, material properties, or interface pressure distribution can significantly influence device performance, user comfort, and long-term acceptance.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Figure 3 presents the first two prosthetic liner prototypes developed using the Lynxter silicone 3D printer S300X – LIQ21 | LIQ11. The primary objective was to leverage silicone 3D printing to fabricate fully patient-specific liners directly from 3D scans of the residual limb, while incorporating dedicated housings for commercial electromyography (EMG) sensors. These housings were specifically designed to facilitate the positioning, integration, and stable attachment of the sensors within the soft interface.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":64,"image":97,"imageCaption":100},{"alt":98,"src":99},"Figure 3 Upper and lower limb 3D printed prosthetic liners integrating EMG electrode housings","figure3_santana.webp","Figure 3. Upper and lower limb 3D printed prosthetic liners integrating EMG electrode housings",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":12,"paragraph":102,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"\u003Cp>The first prototype is an upper-limb prosthetic liner designed for a transradial amputee and fabricated using COPSIL 4050 silicone. The second prototype is a lower-limb liner designed for a transfemoral amputee and fabricated using COPSIL 2550 silicone. The selection of the target stiffness for the two applications was carried out in collaboration with clinicians from the\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inail.it\u002Fportale\u002Fit\u002Fistituto\u002Fl-istituto\u002Fstruttura-organizzativa\u002Fuffici-centrali\u002Fcentro-protesi-vigorso-di-budrio.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> INAIL Prosthetic Centre\u003C\u002Fa>, ensuring that the mechanical properties of the liners matched the specific clinical requirements of each use case.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The choice of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcop-chimie.com\u002Fen\u002F3d-silicone-prototyping\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">COPSIL material\u003C\u002Fa> family was primarily motivated by its suitability for prolonged skin contact and its compliance with the biocompatibility requirements defined by the ISO 10993 standard, a key prerequisite for the development of wearable prosthetic interfaces intended for extended daily use.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>These prototypes represent an initial step toward the development of patient-specific prosthetic liners. Future iterations will further exploit the design freedom offered by silicone 3D printing, for example by tuning infill density, wall thickness, micro-perforations, and local geometries to improve fit, comfort, local compliance, and the overall interaction between the liner and the residual limb.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":104,"paragraph":105,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"What kinds of geometries, structures, or functionalities are you aiming to achieve through silicone 3D printing?","\u003Cp>The main aim is to produce geometries that combine anatomical fit with functional mechanical behaviour. The objective is not only to reproduce shape, but also to tune stiffness, deformation, contact behaviour and integration potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>Thin-walled flexible structures\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Soft liners and interface layers\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Deformable lattices or compliant regions\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Anatomically shaped contact surfaces\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Channels or cavities for sensors, cables or fluids\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Multi-stiffness or variable-compliance concepts\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The main target sectors are medical devices, prosthetics and orthotics, and wearable technologies. There is also potential relevance for rehabilitation engineering, soft robotics, biomimetics, depending on the specific research direction and future collaborations.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":107,"subtitle":108,"paragraph":109,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"3. Materials & Characterization","What types of silicones are primarily used in your research?","\u003Cp>At this stage, our research primarily uses COPSIL 3D 4050 and 2550, two-part RTV-2 silicone elastomers designed for silicone additive manufacturing. They are medium-hardness, translucent printable silicones with a hardness of 40 and 25 Shore A respectively, which make them suitable for producing flexible yet mechanically stable parts for soft biomedical and wearable applications. They are also listed as suitable for skin-contact applications according to ISO 10993-5, which is important for our work involving prosthetic liners, soft interfaces, and body-contact prototypes.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":111,"paragraph":112,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"Which material properties are you particularly investigating ?","\u003Cp>For the printed prosthetic liner, we are mainly investigating properties that affect comfort, skin contact, and functional performance compared with a commercial liner. These include Shore hardness, tensile\u002Ftear resistance and elongation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>We are also considering biocompatibility, skin-contact safety, hygiene, durability and fatigue resistance. The overall aim is to assess how closely the printed silicone liner can match the mechanical and comfort-related behaviour of a commercial prosthetic liner.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":114,"paragraph":115,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"Are you conducting formulation, characterization, or material optimization studies? ","\u003Cp>At this stage, the focus is mainly on material characterization and application-driven optimization rather than fundamental formulation chemistry. We are interested in understanding how printing parameters, geometry and material selection affect mechanical behaviour, repeatability and usability in functional prototypes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In the future, there is potential to explore material optimization more deeply, especially for multi-stiffness interfaces, soft sensor integration and patient-specific prosthetic components.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":117,"paragraph":118,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"How do you evaluate the performance of the printed parts? ","\u003Cp>Performance is evaluated at different levels, depending on the intended application of the printed part. First, we usually characterize the material and printing parameters using standard test specimens, such as dog-bone samples, to estimate mechanical properties such as the elastic modulus and to compare the behaviour of different silicones, infill strategies, or printing settings.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>For prosthetic and wearable applications, however, mechanical characterization alone is not sufficient. The printed part also needs to be evaluated in terms of dimensional accuracy, surface quality, flexibility, and ability to reproduce the intended geometry. In the case of patient-specific prosthetic liners, a key aspect is the assessment of fit and comfort directly on the user or patient. Based on this feedback, the design can then be refined and reprinted, following an iterative process aimed at improving wearability, local compliance, comfort, and functional integration with sensors or other components.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Therefore, a printed part is considered successful not only when it is correctly manufactured, but when it provides the expected mechanical behaviour, fits the user-specific anatomy, and performs reliably within the intended experimental or clinical context.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":120,"subtitle":121,"paragraph":122,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"4. Experimental Developments & R&D","What experimental studies or testing protocols are currently underway?","\u003Cp>The experimental work is focused on understanding how silicone printed parts behave under realistic mechanical and functional conditions. This includes testing printed geometries for flexibility, deformation, durability, repeatability and suitability for integration into biomedical or wearable prototypes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>For prosthetic-related studies, testing may involve soft liners, socket-interface concepts, wearable sensor integration and motion-related experiments using systems such as inertial sensors or pressure sensors. These studies help assess whether the printed parts can support both functional performance and user comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":124,"paragraph":125,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"What technical or scientific limitations are you aiming to overcome with this technology?","\u003Cp>The technology is being explored to overcome several limitations associated with conventional soft-part fabrication.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>Long iteration cycles caused by mould design and manual casting.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Difficulty producing complex internal structures.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Limited ability to personalise soft parts rapidly.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Challenges in controlling local stiffness and deformation.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Difficulty integrating sensors, channels or functional cavities into soft structures.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Limited repeatability when relying on fully manual fabrication methods.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":127,"paragraph":128,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"What new experimental possibilities does silicone 3D printing enable for your research?","\u003Cp>Silicone 3D printing enables rapid production of soft prototypes with complex and customised geometries. This makes it possible to test several design iterations quickly, compare different mechanical behaviours and explore geometries that would be difficult or impractical with traditional moulding.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>It also opens opportunities for integrating sensing features, channels, cavities, soft interfaces and multi-material concepts directly into the design. This is especially valuable for research at the interface of robotics, biomedical engineering and human-centred device development.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":130,"paragraph":131,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"Are you working on multi-material, functional, or complex architecture approaches?","\u003Cp>We are not currently working with multi-material printing, but we are exploring complex silicone architectures for functional prosthetic liner designs. In particular, we aim to print integrated slots or channels within the liner to accommodate EMG sensors for smart monitoring (Fig. 4). This is a key component of our research, as the printer enables us to iterate different design choices and fit requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":64,"image":133,"imageCaption":136},{"alt":134,"src":135},"Figure 4 Lower-limb 3D-printed prosthetic liner integrating commercial dry EMG electrodes into 3D-printed EMG housings","lower limb fig.4.webp","Figure 4. Lower-limb 3D-printed prosthetic liner integrating commercial dry EMG electrodes into 3D-printed EMG housings",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":138,"paragraph":139,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"What advantages have you observed compared with conventional manufacturing methods?","\u003Cp>The main advantages are faster prototyping, reduced dependency on moulds, improved design freedom and the ability to fabricate complex soft structures directly. For research, this is particularly useful because it allows design ideas to be tested quickly and modified based on experimental results.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Compared with casting, silicone 3D printing can also improve repeatability and enable geometries that are difficult to demould or manufacture manually. This can reduce the time between concept, prototype and experimental validation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":141,"subtitle":142,"paragraph":143,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"5. Education & Technology Transfer","How is this technology integrated into student and doctoral training programs?","\u003Cp>The platform can be integrated into student and doctoral training through hands-on research projects involving design, additive manufacturing, material characterization and experimental validation. Students can learn the full workflow from CAD design and material selection to printing, post-processing, testing and functional evaluation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>This is valuable because silicone 3D printing sits at the intersection of robotics, materials science, biomedical engineering and manufacturing. It encourages students to think not only about geometry, but also about material behaviour, interface design and experimental validation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":145,"paragraph":146,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"What types of researchers or students are currently using the machine?","\u003Cp>The machine is currently being used by both master’s thesis students and PhD students within different research projects. Most of these activities are related to biomedical engineering, soft robotics, prosthetics, and wearable devices.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>A key objective is to translate fabrication approaches that were previously based on moulding and casting into silicone 3D printing workflows. In this way, students and researchers can explore how existing concepts for soft interfaces, prosthetic components, and wearable systems can be redesigned to take advantage of the design freedom offered by 3D printing, including more complex geometries, patient-specific shapes, and local control of mechanical properties.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":148,"paragraph":149,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"Do you see potential for technology transfer or industrial collaborations arising from this work?","\u003Cp>Yes. There is strong potential for technology transfer, particularly in prosthetics, orthotics, rehabilitation devices, soft robotic grippers, anatomical models, medical training tools and personalised wearable interfaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Silicone 3D printing can shorten the path from laboratory prototype to customised functional demonstrator. This is highly relevant for industrial collaboration, clinical translation and applied research projects where rapid iteration and user-specific design are important.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":151,"subtitle":152,"paragraph":153,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"6. Future Perspectives","What future developments do you envision around silicone 3D printing?","\u003Cp>Future developments will likely involve higher printing resolution, broader material options, improved multi-material printing, and more advanced software workflows for patient-specific design.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>For biomedical applications, silicone 3D printing is expected to become increasingly important for personalised soft devices, anatomical models, prosthetic interfaces and soft robotic systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":155,"paragraph":156,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"What new research topics or application fields would you like to explore?","\u003Cp>Several future topics are particularly promising for our research environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>Sensorised soft wearable devices\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Soft robotic actuators and grippers\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Anatomical models for surgical planning and training\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Multi-stiffness soft structures\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Soft interfaces for rehabilitation robotics\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Integration of silicone printing with digital design and AI-based personalisation\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":57,"title":12,"subtitle":158,"paragraph":159,"buttonTitle":12,"buttonLink":12},"In your opinion, what role will silicone 3D printing play in the future evolution of advanced additive manufacturing?","\u003Cp>Silicone 3D printing will play an important role in expanding additive manufacturing beyond rigid parts and into soft, functional and human-centred devices. Many future technologies in healthcare, robotics and wearable systems will require materials that are compliant, comfortable and mechanically similar to biological tissues.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In this sense, silicone 3D printing is not only a manufacturing method, but an enabling technology for personalised, soft and functional devices. It bridges the gap between digital design and real-world soft-matter applications, which is essential for the next generation of biomedical and robotic systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",{"type":161,"title":12,"subtitle":162,"paragraph":163,"buttonTitle":164,"buttonLink":165,"image":166,"imageCaption":12,"fatImage":169},"MidRight","E-book","\u003Cp>Would you like to learn more about 3D printing in the medical field?\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","download the e-book","ebook-healthcare",{"alt":167,"src":168},"EBOOK-HEALTHCARE","cover-ebook-medecine-lynxterjpg.webp",false,{"type":171,"colors":172,"title":174,"quote":169,"author":12,"titleSize":28},"CenterText",{"background":173,"front":20},"primary","MAKE IT SMARTER",{"type":176,"value":177,"toc":178},"minimark",[],{"title":12,"searchDepth":179,"depth":179,"links":180},2,[],"Use cases","25\u002F08\u002F2026","Every patient has a unique anatomy. So why settle for a standard prosthetic? That's the challenge the BioRobotics Institute team at Sant'Anna (Pisa, Italy) is tackling, combining 3D scanning and silicone printing to manufacture prosthetic liners as precise as they are innovative. We take you inside their laboratory.","md",{"src":15,"alt":186},"Upper Limb silicone 3D printed","en",{},"\u002Fen\u002Flearn\u002Fblog\u002Fsoft-personalized-intelligent-how-the-s300x-liq21-or-liq11-is-revolutioning-prosthetic-interfaces",{"title":5,"description":183},"en\u002F6.learn\u002F1.blog\u002Fsoft-personalized-intelligent-how-the-s300x-liq21-or-liq11-is-revolutioning-prosthetic-interfaces","SANTANA","TechArticle","FcWL_wEuPEaD38vIewbiNK1UD_uHRauTcH_LcAaOlvM",1787738770599]