Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, and DiveDesign partnered to develop a custom 3D printed K9 quad cart for rescue dog “Wobbly Hannah” (@wobblyhannahtotherescue).
Hannah is affected by a neurological condition called cerebellar hypoplasia. This means her brain doesn’t communicate well with her body in terms of movement, balance, and coordination. The results are delayed body movements requiring her to have an assistive device to move around. Due to her size and body movements, most off-the-shelf K9 quad cart solutions simply wouldn’t work, they were not able to support Hannah properly, were too large or would tip over during use.
Owner Cassidy, fed up with her limited options, reached out to DiveDesign to create a better solution. “She’s 65 lbs. and unable to stand on her own. We tried several custom carts that have all failed us, they have not been built to withstand the weight and force when she is trying to move. We were starting to wonder if we were ever able going to be able to have something made for her that supports her like we needed it to,” said Cassidy.
DiveDesign was first contacted by Cassidy in April of 2021 to discuss potential opportunities. DiveDesign got to work conceptualizing and prototyping different designs utilizing state-of-the-art scanning and virtual design software as well as Braskem’s innovative carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) filament for 3D printing.
Manufacturing on Demand
Jason Vagnozzi, Braskem Commercial Director of Additive Manufacturing, stated, “When DiveDesign first shared the opportunity and we saw Wobbly Hannah on Instagram, we instantly fell in love with her. We immediately knew having a lightweight durable material would be essential to the success of the project. Our carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene was the perfect solution for the 3D printed K9 quad cart. Hannah is an amazing dog, and we are so happy to be able to help her live a comfortable and happy life.”
The studio was able to develop a durable and lightweight 3D printed K9 quad cart for Hannah in less than four (4) months, all through virtual communications. Hannah’s body is now properly supported, and she is fully empowered to live an active and healthier life, while independently enjoying the freedom to pursue activities with her family and other dogs.
Alex Tholl, DiveDesign CEO, stated, “My partner Adam Hecht and I were very fortunate to have Jason from Braskem reach out to us. While our team’s knowledge and experience in additive is extensive, finding a material that would be an excellent fit became challenging. Jason stepped in with Braskem’s new CF-PP and gave us that confidence we needed to make this work for Hannah.”
Braskem and DiveDesign recently won the award for Best Bespoke Solution in The Cool Parts Showcase awards for their work with Hannah. Much like the award-winning video series, The Cool Parts Show, the showcase highlights innovative, real-world solutions made through 3D printing. Submissions were open to anyone making parts with additive technology. “The response to the contest from participants, voters and event attendees was phenomenal,” said Stephanie Hendrixson, co-host of The Cool Parts Show along with Peter Zelinski. “More than 2,500 fans voted to select our winning parts from among the twelve finalists. On behalf of The Cool Parts Show team, I’d like to extend our thanks to everyone who submitted parts and participated in the vote, and to congratulate the creators of our winning parts!”
Braskem’s carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene filament allows users to 3D print lightweight and exceptionally rigid parts for high-end applications, such as automotive, aerospace, nautical, sporting goods, and much more. Best of all FL00PP-CF is made using 100% recycled carbon fiber providing for a more sustainable product footprint while maintaining all the premium performance you would expect from virgin carbon fiber.
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Author: Davide Sher
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