Dr Mladenko Kajtaz, MIEAust CPEng NER | Senior Lecturer

BApp Sc (Comp Sc), BEng (MechEng)(Hons), PhD

School of Engineering
RMIT Centre for Additive Manufacturing

My research interest areas and industry experience include product

development and innovation, mechanical design, finite element analysis and
multidisciplinary design optimisation. One of the primary focuses of my
current work is mass customisation and personalisation of consumer
products with a strong emphasis on human-centred design.

During my employment in industry, I managed and led several product

development projects such as mass customisation of cycling helmets using
AM processes and personalisation of protective sports equipment.
Industrial Design (double degree) students

These projects also qualify for your honours projects.

Scott (Mitchell) & Liam (Fennessy) will be able to provide further assistance
with registration and co-supervision.
 Assessment 3: Final Presentation
Assessment 4: Final Report

*supervisor assesses **additional reports/presentations to the industry partners may be required

Terms & Conditions:
› Project teams of ~3 students
› Project teams run as mini companies
› Output driven independent (hard) work
› Regular weekly (scrum) meetings
 ENDORSED BY

STIFFNESS ON DEMAND - SMART FABRIC

Objective

When loose rice grains are closely packed in a vacuum bag,

they form an extremely stiff object. This phenomenon could
also be achieved with chainmail where the individual
chainmail links resemble the rice grains.

This project aims to explore a vacuum-packed 3D-printed

chainmail fabric as a technological enabler for the
development of personal protection for motorcyclists.

The project involves identifying suitable shapes of the

chainmail links, mechanisms for stiffness on demand and
their embodiment in a product.

3 STUDENTS
A NOVEL DESIGN OF ANKLE-FOOT ORTHOSES
FOR CHILDREN 3 STUDENTS

Objective

An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is a brace that supports the ankle and foot to treat
lower limb neuromuscular disorders in children.

AFOs are the most commonly used orthoses, and they are supplied with a
variety of purposes in mind including controlling alignment, increasing mobility
and independence, assisting rehabilitation and/or reducing pain.

The challenge is to fit an AFO that does everything a child may need to do in
their activities of daily living. Currently, orthotists can provide one stiffness or
joint range of motion in an AFO for walking OR running, but not both. The world
of Additive Manufacturing offers the Orthotic industry the possibility of
changing this.

This project aims to develop a high-quality 3D printed AFO to enable self-

adjustment of the AFO stiffness (beam) depending on the activity the child is
doing.
PERSONALISED DESIGN ::
3 STUDENTS

Background Objective

Tristan is a 10 year old boy from Melbourne diagnosed with Friedreich
Ataxia. This rare (1:30,000) neurological condition causes deterioration
of coordination, muscles and nerves. Symptoms become similar to
those of Stephen Hawking - muscles become weak in the legs and the
heart becomes damaged. Eventually affecting the entire body.
This project aims is to design and develop a walking device specific to
10 year old Tristan to assist him to walk freely again and improve his
integration with friends, family, peers and school. Aesthetically, the
walker would be surreptitious, modern and empowering.

To keep Tristan from deteriorating, walking is the most important part

of his treatment. Tristan needs to be able to walk (with a walker), to be
included in medical trials for developing medicine. He also needs a
walker to stop his deterioration, unimaginable leg pain and cramps.
And on an emotional level, Tristan needs a walker so he is able to
maintain independence – he needs a walker to be able to do everyday
tasks, such as getting to the toilet on time, participating in school sports
with his friends, brushing his teeth and even standing up for photos.

Tristan is often embarrassed when he uses his current walker as it is big

and bulky and usually it is his walker that people first notice - rather
than his friendly smile and kind personality.
SAVIC MOTORCYCLES

Savic Motorcycles is an early stage business located in Melbourne Australia focusing on the
design, development, manufacture, and sale of designer electric motorcycles that are
affordable. Currently, the team is testing its production prototype but the vehicle is heavy. For
this reason, Savic MC have engaged RMIT and its students to execute a number of studies to
help make our product the best in the world.
Should you choose to undertake a project, you will be mentored and developed to deliver high
quality results on an actual product that is coming to market. The light weighting projects that
are on offer will require development of your skills in CAD (Solidworks) and CAE skills
(Hypermesh / Inspire), as well as developing drawings (Solidworks MBD), and getting parts
prototyped by Savic MC suppliers for testing by working with our supply chain manager.
The key parts that are available for design, development, and or optimisation by students
include but are not limited to:
→ IP rated dash housing
→ Triple clamp assembly
→ Clip On Handle Bars
→ Drive train assembly (Front and rear pulley)
→ Swingarm Assembly (Swing arm mounts, swingarm)
→ Rims
→ Subframe
→ Front Frame

3 STUDENTS