Location
Blomberg, Germany
Use case / PROTIQ orthopedic shoemaking
Tailor-made orthopedic footwear takes weeks to produce because it requires a shoe last, a 3D representation of the foot. Traditionally, shoe lasts are milled from wood or created with plaster casts, both time-consuming and costly methods. Often manufactured in Asia and shipped to Europe, this process causes delays and potential fit inaccuracies, making patients wait longer for their orthopedic shoes.
trinckle developed a web-based configurator that allows orthopedic technicians to design and order customized orthopedic shoe lasts in minutes. This tool, developed with paramate, combines digitization with medical craftsmanship.
Location
Blomberg, Germany
Industry
Manufacturing marketplace
Size
20+
Product
Custom solution
using a web-based configurator app that enables functional 3D design without CAD skills
using a combination of design automation and affordable desktop 3D printers
A range of customization parameters ensures a perfect custom fit every time
3D printing produces shoe lasts overnight, ready to ship in a few days. Using durable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), these shoe lasts can withstand heavy stress, resist abrasion, and provide an easy-grip surface. Their low weight reduces strain on the shoemaker's arms, making them superior to their wooden counterparts.
This rapid production method speeds up the manufacturing process without disrupting the established workflow.
Before printing an individual shoe last, a corresponding 3D model must be generated. While CAD software can be used, orthopedic shoemakers often lack the necessary design expertise and access to appropriate software. Conventional CAD software is also expensive and highly complex to use.
"As an orthopedic shoemaker, I want to be able to concentrate on the medical aspects of my work. The design of 3D model data in classic CAD programs is not one of them. In order to be able to use 3D printing technology for my work in a meaningful way, I need software that takes the actual design load off my hands and guides me intuitively through the configuration process."
Orthopedic Technician
PROTIQ now has a free configuration module on their website that allows orthopedic shoemakers to design customized shoe lasts in minutes. Built on trinckle's paramate software, this tool integrates seamlessly with standard orthopedic shoemaking processes.
Using 3D scan data and manual measurements of the patient's feet, the configuration aligns closely with traditional manual shoe last design. The straightforward interface requires no CAD or 3D printing design expertise, empowering orthopedic technicians to independently configure shoe lasts.
The shoe last configurator was developed in collaboration with experienced orthopedic shoemakers to meet all the needs of shoe last manufacturing. trinckle collaborated throughout the development and testing process to create the best possible tool.
5. Finish configuration: Customers can choose how to split their shoe lasts: heel cut, 2-part, 3-part, or step cut.
"We are now capable of serving our customers with a simple and intuitive way to design their individual shoe lasts online – effortlessly, quickly and at the expected high quality. All this is thanks to trinckle's software solution."
Head of Development, Marketing & Sales, PROTIQ GmbH
By combining the potential of 3D printing with design automation, new doors are opened for novel applications in orthopedics.
trinckle's cloud-based paramate software is key to transforming a formerly cost-intensive manual process into a scalable application. Because it's cloud-based, this software solution can be continuously refined in collaboration with the orthopedic shoemaker community. Each iteration aims to create an even more optimized solution.