A joint research project between HAWE Hydraulik, the Technical University of Munich, and voxeljet AG aims to develop lightweight exoskeletons from a modular design kit. The project brief calls for an exoskeleton “comparable in size and shape to a human arm,” with key connecting components printed by voxeljet.
TUM has a long history of innovation in exoskeleton design. In 2014, TUM researcher Gordon Cheng and his team gained worldwide fame when a paraplegic man wearing their exoskeleton kicked off the first ball at the FIFA world cup. Since then, Dr. Cheng’s team has found that wearing an exoskeleton doesn’t just help people in the moment: it promotes a long-term increase in motor function.

The exoskeleton proposed in this joint research project would use a hydraulic system and 3DP parts for lightness and power (Image via HAWE Hydraulik).
This time, the university’s exoskeleton research will rely on hydraulic parts and 3D printing. To make the exoskeleton more powerful and allow users to go longer between charges, the exoskeleton will be powered by an electrohydraulic system made by HAWE. The system will be made up of a small power unit, a hose system, and a hydraulic cylinder, and will function as the “muscles” of the exoskeleton.
The “tendons” of the exoskeleton, holding it together, will be made via additive manufacturing. Voxeljet AG is a Germany-based company that works primarily in sand and polymer-based binder-jetting, specializing in molds for metal casting. On this project, they will be making connecting parts like integrated hose feed-throughs to make them lighter. The brief calls for “thin-walled, lightweight structures with long cavities and small diameters” to connect the exoskeleton together.
If all goes well, the final prototype will be “comparable in size and shape to a human arm.” While the word “exoskeleton” calls to mind images of a heavy, full-body suit, this prototype follows in the footsteps of other partial-body exoskeletons made using additive manufacturing. The main concern is flexibility; the researchers are hoping to create an exoskeleton capable of end goals from medical rehabilitation to handicraft-making.
Because the end users include people undergoing rehabilitation, the project’s other main goal is lightness. “Every gram counts,” the project brief says, “since the user should not be burdened with a high additional weight.”
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
U.S. Navy Approves 3D Printed Parts from Nuclear Ship Leader
As suggested in a story from 3DPrint.com Macro Analyst Matt Kremenetsky, anything related to securing the U.S. manufacturing supply chain is currently getting a significant boost from the Biden Administration,...
Investors Could be the X Factor in 3D Printing Workforce Development
It must be frustrating for stakeholders in the additive manufacturing (AM) sector to see that the companies that they’re backing are facing the exact same obstacles in the short-term that...
US Navy Submarine Installs Markforged 3D Printer
Virginia-class submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778), part of the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), now has a Markforged X7 field edition additive manufacturing (AM) platform installed onboard. NAVSEA’s...
3D Printing News Briefs, February 25, 2023: Anatomic Models, Horse Trailer, & More
Fabrisonic is introducing a new build plate with embedded sensors; this hardware news kicks off today’s 3D Printing News Briefs. Moving on, we’ll cover some of the major 3D printing...
Print Services
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.