Embrace 3D-printed orthopedic insoles
The Embrace Insole solution features everything the orthopedic workshop will need to produce customized insoles to improve foot conditions using 3D printing technology in-house.
3D print technology is a clean and sustainable production method compared to traditional subtractive crafting. You can showcase the entire process in your clinic to create curiosity from customers and feature a decentralized and sustainable production.
We are your facilitator to unlock the benefits of 3D printing with soft, elastic, and flexible materials. With the Embrace Insole solution, you have a customized printing strategy. We help you leverage your products.
The advantages include the following:
- Superior prints of medical-grade customized devices
- Saving time in the production process
- Skipping the molds and excessive waste
Do you have some components in your current setup, or are you interested in a complete solution?
Mass-customize
Easy to customize indivudual insoles with the opportunity to implement softer and harder zones.
Embrace InsoleMaker
How to get started
You are not alone. Join a mutual partnership with Create it REAL and get a solution custom-made for your business.
Learn more
Beautiful integration
Scan the customers feet, prepare the digital insole and then press print in one integrated process. Read about the CUBIX case.
CUBIX caseDisrupting traditional crafting
Orthopedic insoles have long been recommended for individuals suffering from foot pain, arch issues, and other problems with the musculoskeletal system. These inserts are designed to provide additional support and cushioning to the feet, helping to alleviate pain and improve overall comfort. However, traditional orthopedic insoles have limited customization options, often relying on a one-size-fits-all approach or a complex crafting process.
With our 3D printing technology, you will have the tools to better treatment of your customers’ conditions.
Mass-customized insoles
With the Embrace Insole solution, you can 3D print custom insoles in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and other elastic, soft, and flexible filaments. In the solution, we use a unique and patented feature to print soft and hard zones with smooth graduation between the different zones, so it feels pleasant without sharp transitions in the final product.
The flow for manufacturing the insole is as follows:
- Digitalization of the individual feet using a 3D scanner device plus optional pressure mapping
- Designing the insoles and making customized corrections for optimal treatment and corrections using a CAD design tool
- Preparation of manufacturing in CAM software
- 3D Printing the insoles
Embrace insole solution components
Our solution provides a dedicated 3D printer called InsoleMaker and CAM preparation software (REALvision Embrace). The Embrace InsoleMaker solution can integrate with your current 3D scanner and CAD software if you are already producing insoles with other manufacturing techniques.
As an alternative, we can identify the right components for your entire solution. We currently work with several partners and CAD providers to offer a complete and integrated solution.
InsoleMaker 2.0 3D printer
To make a specialized product like insoles, you will need a 3D printer that suits the job. It requires unique technology to control the printing of soft TPU. The InsoleMaker is designed for 3D printing orthopedic insoles in this challenging material while simultaneously being easy to operate by the clinic personnel.
The InsoleMaker 2.0 is a second-generation fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer with a proven track record in orthopedic stores. It has a heated spool chamber, automatic bed leveling, onscreen assisted guides, and minimal maintenance. Of course, a working space is large enough for a size 50 insole.
REALvision Embrace 3D printing software
When the nozzle distributes the melting polymer on the three-dimensional axes, the 3D printing materials are distributed in a sincere pattern created by the gcode generated in REALvision Embrace CAM software.
It may sound complicated, but with REALvision Embrace, the slicing process is streamlined to fit into the workflow and integrated into your design software. Operating the software is easy. Define the different soft and hard zones, and press print. All complexity of the slicing process is simplified, so you can concentrate on designing the proper custom shoe insert to relieve the foot problem.
How to get started with 3D printing insoles
Additive manufacturing is still a young technology. Typically our clients come from traditional, subtractive crafting of insoles. The technology switch influences everything in your daily work with insoles. You may go from hiding the crafting in a dusty part of your workshop to putting it up front in the store. With our specialists, we will guide you through the process of getting started by going through the following steps:
- Define scope; how are you producing insoles today, and what do you wish to achieve?
- Seeing is believing; we provide samples, either standard or from your files, with your specifications.
- Define a solution; together, we will find the best solution – do you have components like scanning devices, pressure mapping, or CAD that can be integrated into the new solution?
- Produce 3D insoles; we won’t leave you alone after installation and training. Expect to enter a partnership with regular follow-up meetings.
Produce custom insoles in a couple of hours
Individually customized orthopedic insoles that fulfill the requirements of persons with serious foot problems, like a diabetic foot or other conditions that require foot support, also require expertise and in-depth knowledge to produce.
The Embrace 3D-printed insoles offer a cleaner alternative to the traditional crafting of insoles. The conventional crafting method is subtractive and calls for intensive handcrafting and up to 90% waste. In additive manufacturing, particularly with the FDM technology, we talk about zero waste, no odor in a clean office environment, and no need for skilled personnel in crafting.
How does zero-waste sound to you?
However, you may need to disrupt your current process because getting everything added to the design from the beginning is much easier. No fitting is required. A couple of hours after your customers order a custom-made pair of insoles, they can pick them up from your store.
When we say sustainable and zero-waste, we mean it. Ask the customer to return the used insoles, which are melted into 3D printer filament and reused for new insoles. That is a proper use of resources.
Please continue reading to learn more about CUBIX, our complete solution, or let us get in touch.
How to get started with 3D printed insoles?
Please feel free to reach out to our business developer Lene Jensen
Business case: CUBIX 3D printed insoles in orthopedic shoe stores
CUBIX could be for you. Are you looking for a solution containing all components? Please read about the business case that started our insole adventure.
The CUBIX insole printing solution combines cutting-edge technologies and know-how from GeBioM, Covestro, and Create it REAL. It stands out as a well-proven system currently installed in more than 100 orthopedic workshops across Europe.
Traditionally, the production process involves manual work and a high percentage of wasted material. CUBIX solution for 3D printing insoles comprises an effortless operation using 100% recyclable filaments.
Our partner Marcel Domenghino, CEO of GeBioM says:
“Together with Create it REAL, we can offer an integrated process from scan to printed insole. Reducing manual work and the need for technical know-how. “
The CUBIX solution is built on a partnership formed with technology from GeBioM and Create it REAL. The bricks are integrated into a solution, surrounded by proper support to get installed, started, and integrated into the store. We realize that disrupting an existing industry takes time and people need to be trained appropriately in 360 degrees of the solution. It influences the way you work, the way you design and craft, and the way you market and sell.
Revolutionizing diabetic foot care with 3D printing technology
For GeBioM, it started with the diabetic foot. People with diabetic foot conditions can particularly benefit from the advancements in orthopedic care. Diabetic individuals are at an increased risk for foot problems, including neuropathy, foot ulcers, and amputations. Proper foot care and support are crucial in preventing these complications, and 3D-printed orthopedic insoles can play a vital role in this process.
The inserts can be tailored to provide targeted support and cushioning to specific foot areas, resulting in a more comfortable, individual, and practical fit. In addition, 3D-printed insoles can be designed to offload pressure from sites of the foot at risk for ulceration, helping to prevent more severe injuries.
Prevent complications with 3D-printed insoles
In addition to their potential for preventing diabetic foot complications, 3D-printed orthopedic insoles also have several other benefits. They are lightweight and durable, making them ideal for daily use. The 3D printing process also allows for a more efficient and cost-effective production process, making these inserts more accessible for patients.
Overall, the use of 3D-printed orthopedic insoles is a significant advancement in the field of diabetic foot care. These inserts provide a customized and targeted solution for foot pain and other musculoskeletal issues, helping individuals lead more comfortable and active lives.