Evaluating the Suitability of Additive Manufacturing for Fabricating Prosthetic Fingers in Upper Limb Prostheses

The development of cosmetic prostheses benefits significantly from the integration of additive manufacturing technologies, which offer new possibilities for personalization, rapid production, and cost efficiency. This study explores the potential of selected additive manufacturing methods for fabricating prosthetic fingers used in upper limb cosmetic prostheses. Esthetic and mechanical properties of the printed components were assessed alongside production efficiency and material use. Quantitatively, maximum bending loads ranged from 9 to 136 N, maximum compressive loads from 12 to 158 N, and sample mass from 4 to 22 g across configurations. The findings confirm that additive manufacturing enables the creation of prosthetic components that meet basic cosmetic and functional expectations. However, the choice of manufacturing method strongly influences surface quality, structural performance, production time, and economic feasibility. These results highlight the importance of matching technological capabilities with specific clinical and design requirements. The study contributes to the ongoing development of digital fabrication workflows for prosthetics and underscores the need for standardized evaluation criteria to support reliable comparisons across materials and manufacturing processes.