ELEGOO Gives A Hand: Rey's New Paw

Rey, a loving 4-year-old Doberman weighing 100 pounds, recently found himself at this crossroads. A tumor in his front left leg led to a life-saving surgery to amputate it. Even though this was an incredibly tough moment, Rey’s devoted owner refused to lose hope. While searching for ways to improve Rey’s quality of life, they came across 3DPets. 

3DPets specializes in customized prosthetics for pets, using advanced 3D printing technology to create solutions tailored to each animal’s specific needs. So far, 3DPets has helped thousands of animals by combining 3D scanning, personalized harness design, and high-precision 3D printing.

How 3D Printing Became Rey’s Helping Paw

Central to the process of creating these life-changing prosthetics is 3D printing, where ELEGOO’s printers have taken the spotlight. Over the years, 3DPets has relied on ELEGOO machines to create countless custom-made prosthetics for animals in need. Yet, larger animals like Rey often present unique technical challenges. Rey’s size made it impossible to print a flexible TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) harness in one seamless piece using standard 3D printers like the Neptune. To overcome this hurdle, ELEGOO sponsored the game-changing OrangeStorm Giga 3D printer for 3DPets.

"Printing the jacket for our full-limbs or carts in one piece is extremely important because we want to avoid any potential areas for weakness or fracture," says Lydia, director of operations at 3DPets.

With its impressive build volume of 800 x 800 x 1000 mm³ and exceptional printing accuracy, the OrangeStorm Giga proved more than capable of tackling these challenges. It efficiently helped 3DPets craft even the largest prosthetic components, opening new doors for supporting animals like Rey.

Building a Custom Fit for Rey

The creation of Rey’s prosthetic limb started with 3D scanning. Using just a smartphone, the 3DPets team captured an accurate 3D model of Rey’s body. This allowed them to measure his dimensions and tailor the prosthetic harness to fit snugly while evenly distributing his weight. Reducing physical strain on the rest of his body was a top priority to ensure Rey’s long-term comfort. After finalizing the harness design, the OrangeStorm Giga brought the 3D model to reality. Orangestorm Giga performed flawlessly, turning a complex digital design into a tangible, functional prosthetic.

"The jacket is printed out of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material. That paired with our custom software and algorithm allows us to generate a lattice pattern that has strength and structure where it's needed (like where the leg mounts) and flexibility in other areas like around their ribcage for when they turn and breathe," Lydia says. "This is super important because dogs are not static, they're dynamic so their device should support that."

After the printing was complete, a series of post-processing steps followed, including removing supports, sanding, and adding padding. The harness was then rigorously tested and fitted to make sure it aligned perfectly with Rey’s body. Once the harness passed all checks, the next step involved attaching the leg support and footpad, with adjustments made for the best length and balance.

With everything ready, Rey was introduced to his new prosthetic alongside Lydia. Lydia worked patiently with Rey to build his confidence and teach him how to trust the prosthetic. Thanks to its perfect design and the flexible TPU materials, Rey quickly adapted and even started to play with toys at his fitting. The snug, comfortable fit and responsive design allowed Rey to start running, jumping, and embracing life with renewed energy.

Create The Future

Rey’s road to recovery represents a story of hope, love, and cutting-edge innovation. His custom prosthetic not only gives him the freedom to move but also brings back a sense of normalcy to his vibrant life. We’re grateful to the incredible 3DPets team for their dedication and expertise. It’s also a privilege for ELEGOO to have contributed to Rey’s journey by covering the customization expenses and sponsoring the OrangeStorm Giga printer.

As we celebrate ELEGOO’s 10th anniversary, we look forward to seeing more revolutionary applications in 3D printing—much like these prosthetics—that have the power to transform lives. Moving forward, our mission is to empower more innovative teams like 3DPets to think beyond traditional manufacturing and boldly create the future.