There are various studies on the structural and functional constructions of hand prostheses inspired by human biomechanics, and there are different kinds of prostheses available on the market. This paper aims to present the relevant stages of designing a hand prosthesis prototype that is innovative due to its mechanical structure and, therefore, the prosthesis fingers’ DOF and mobility. The prosthesis is designed to have independent finger motion with the rotations of each of the three phalanges and, most importantly, rotation for each of the fingers relative to the palm. All these motions are generated and controlled by micromotors, a microcontroller, and sensors. A reverse engineering technique was applied for obtaining the exterior surface dimensions of the prosthesis and this consequently ensures that this prosthesis looks as realistic as possible. Small, light mechanical parts were designed as components of the mechanical system for the motions of finger phalanges and most of them (gears, levers, shells) were made using 3D-printing technologies (digital light processing (DLP) and/or selective laser sintering (SLS)). Aspects of some technical problems which arose during the prototype assembly are also recorded in the paper. Further research development will focus on the tests conducted on the prosthesis and the consequent adjustments of the prototype.

This paper presents aspects of the concept and design of prostheses for the upper limb. The objective of this research is that of prototyping a customized prosthesis, with EMG signals that initiate the motion. The prosthesis’ fingers’ motions (as well as that of its hand and forearm parts) are driven by micro-motors, and assisted by the individualized command and control system. The software and hardware tandem concept of this mechatronic system enables complex motion (in the horizontal and vertical plane) with accurate trajectory and different set rules (gripping pressure, object temperature, acceleration towards the object). One important idea is regarding customization via reverse engineering techniques. Due to this, the dimensions and appearance (geometric characteristics) of the prosthesis would look like the human hand itself. The trajectories and motions of the fingers, thumbs, and joints have been studied by kinematic analysis with the matrix–vector method aided by Matlab. The concept and design of the mechanical parts allow for complex finger motion—rotational motion in two planes. The command and control system is embedded, and data received from the sensors are processed by a micro-controller for managing micro-motor control. Preliminary testing of the sensors and micro-motors on a small platform, Arduino, was performed. Prototyping of the mechanical components has been a challenge because of the high accuracy needed for the geometric precision of the parts. Several techniques of rapid prototyping were considered, but only DLP (digital light processing) proved to be the right one.

MATEC Web of Conferences, open access proceedings in Materials science, Engineering and Chemistry

Ecological steel framed sustainable and anti-seismic constructions have been highly developed in America, Asia and Europe. Following this trend, Romania has the opportunity to build houses, flats, offices and storage halls using the light gauge steel (LGS) framing system. For reasons of efficient and economic building, sustainable development and requirements from builders of steel framed constructions in Romania, it has been considered an issue to improve some of the steel mechanical characteristics. The metallic profile, which is the basic component of the steel framed system, is manufactured by cold roll forming from laminated low carbon steel strips, galvanized for good corrosion protection. Improving the material’s hardness and tensile strength stands as a challenge caused by the limitations that follow: Reduced material thickness, low carbon content of the material (required for the cold deformation process), estimated profile thermal deformation and customized profile section to harden. This research is focused on the optimization of the induction process (by high frequency current) applied to the LGS material. The advantages and benefits of improving the light gauge steel profile’s hardness are pointed out towards the end of this article.

At present there is used a significant number of techniques and methods for diagnosis and management analysis which support the decision-making process. All these methods facilitate reaching the objectives for improving the results through efficiency, quality and customer satisfaction. By developing a methodology for analysing the problems identified in the macro-productive companies there can be brought outstanding benefits to the management and there are offered new perspectives on the critical influencing factors within a system. Through this paper we present an effective management strategy, applicable to an organization with productive profile in order to design an informational system aimed to manage one of its most important and complex systems, namely the coordination of the quality management system. The informational organisation of the quality management system on management principles, ensures an optimization of the informational energy consumption, allowing the management to deal with the following: to ascertain the current situation; to seize the opportunities, but also the potential risks afferent to the organisation policy; to observe the strengths and weaknesses; to take appropriate decisions and then to control the effects obtained. In this way, the decisional factors are able to better understand the available opportunities and to base more efficiently the process of choosing the alternatives.