Senior Project Devoted to 3D Printed Prosthetic for Sister
Senior Project Devoted to 3D Printed Prosthetic for Sister
Vitaliy Bondarchuk, mechanical engineering student and ASME Section Leader, dedicated his senior project to developing a 3D printed prosthetic arm that helps his younger sister do what she loves.
As a student at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., Vitaliy Bondarchuk pursued a bachelor’s degree, served as an ASME Student Section Leader, and to complete his senior project requirement, designed a 3D printed prosthetic arm for his younger sister.
Faced with delivering a compelling plan for his senior mechanical engineering project, Bondarchuk understood the assignment of a solution to a real-world problem. His sister, 7-year-old Bella, lives with a disability—born without her left arm below her elbow. “The challenge I tried to solve is helping her complete simple tasks, simple things she enjoys,” the new graduate explained.
When the opportunity arose—the engineer’s senior project—it was Bondarchuk’s concern about his younger sibling’s struggle that led him “to do something for her,” he said. But Bondarchuk knew he "couldn’t create a whole prosthetic arm." So he decided on a solution where attachments—for specific tasks—could be switched out as needed.
To reach his solution within the time given, Bondarchuk spent countless hours planning, documenting, measuring, designing, and ensuring the project details. One activity-specific tool, for example, is an Uno card holder. “She loves playing Uno and just having her hold [the cards] is difficult,” he explained. The ultimate idea was to provide a tool that makes a set number of tasks easier to do.
The project ended up being a bit more of a challenge than Bondarchuk originally thought. The first hurdle may have been the biggest: Designing the arm attachment using SolidWorks, a 3D printer, and producing an organic shape. “So modeling took some effort,” he admitted. The work included a lot of designing, measuring, and prototyping. “Okay, print it. How does it fit? Okay? And going back and make changes,” he said.
Making the project even more difficult was the need for the design to accommodate nonabrasive padding. “You don’t want the plastic against skin rubbing or anything so just designing that, I think was one of the biggest challenges,” he said.
The young engineer credits creativity, perseverance, and learning from mistakes to finally achieving a workable design. “Things broke. Of course,” he admitted. Ultimately it was various attachments that wrapped up the “solution.” He earned an “A” for the project that required four months and documentation, including design manuals and project proposals, and ultimately led to a happy youngster using tools including the Uno card holder and another, similarly designed, paint brush holder.
Bondarchuk was a commuter student and didn’t live on campus. “I would just drive for classes, and then drive back. And that’s basically all I did. I didn’t get involved in anything. I just stuck to myself, and it was rough,” he admitted.
He ultimately got involved with ASME by reviving a long-neglected ASME Student Section. At that time he also realized that he wanted to secure a position with GE’s Operations Management Leadership Program (OMLP) offered at its Greenville GE Vernova facility. This two-year program made up of four, six-month rotations allows participants to build leadership, functional, and real-life skills.
To gain a much-needed edge in the application process, Bondarchuk looked to join an engineering club and gain leadership experience. At that time, Bob Jones did not have an ASME Student Section. With the help of a professor, and a university interested in starting such a group that is specifically for mechanical engineering, Bondarchuk began the process and reached out to ASME.
ASME Fellow and Greenville Section member Callie Tourigny delivered a career development and interview advice session at the new ASME Student Section at Bob Jones University.
When ASME approval finally came through, Bondarchuk became the Chair of the Bob Jones ASME Student Section in Greenville. The experience of building the section has been invaluable, he said. And what began as simply reaching out to students continued with a bit of “trial and error.”
Bondarchuk has been accepted into the GE’s OMLP. He is looking forward to beginning his career and gaining some real world, on-the-job training, starting with a six-month technical rotation—for him a manufacturing engineering position in New Jersey at GE Metem. But he admitted that the prize is securing a full-time position with GE.
“OMLP is a large amount of experience in a very short period of time—a fast track of experience,” he said. When he considers GE and OMLP: “You come in as like a fresh college student,” Bondarchuk explained. “Now, you’re going to lead a group of operators. It can be intimidating. But I am looking forward to and getting ready to learn a lot.”
Cathy Cecere is membership content program manager.
Faced with delivering a compelling plan for his senior mechanical engineering project, Bondarchuk understood the assignment of a solution to a real-world problem. His sister, 7-year-old Bella, lives with a disability—born without her left arm below her elbow. “The challenge I tried to solve is helping her complete simple tasks, simple things she enjoys,” the new graduate explained.
3D printed prosthetic senior project
When the opportunity arose—the engineer’s senior project—it was Bondarchuk’s concern about his younger sibling’s struggle that led him “to do something for her,” he said. But Bondarchuk knew he "couldn’t create a whole prosthetic arm." So he decided on a solution where attachments—for specific tasks—could be switched out as needed. To reach his solution within the time given, Bondarchuk spent countless hours planning, documenting, measuring, designing, and ensuring the project details. One activity-specific tool, for example, is an Uno card holder. “She loves playing Uno and just having her hold [the cards] is difficult,” he explained. The ultimate idea was to provide a tool that makes a set number of tasks easier to do.
The project ended up being a bit more of a challenge than Bondarchuk originally thought. The first hurdle may have been the biggest: Designing the arm attachment using SolidWorks, a 3D printer, and producing an organic shape. “So modeling took some effort,” he admitted. The work included a lot of designing, measuring, and prototyping. “Okay, print it. How does it fit? Okay? And going back and make changes,” he said.
Making the project even more difficult was the need for the design to accommodate nonabrasive padding. “You don’t want the plastic against skin rubbing or anything so just designing that, I think was one of the biggest challenges,” he said.
The young engineer credits creativity, perseverance, and learning from mistakes to finally achieving a workable design. “Things broke. Of course,” he admitted. Ultimately it was various attachments that wrapped up the “solution.” He earned an “A” for the project that required four months and documentation, including design manuals and project proposals, and ultimately led to a happy youngster using tools including the Uno card holder and another, similarly designed, paint brush holder.
Mechanical engineer’s ASME involvement
Bondarchuk was a commuter student and didn’t live on campus. “I would just drive for classes, and then drive back. And that’s basically all I did. I didn’t get involved in anything. I just stuck to myself, and it was rough,” he admitted. He ultimately got involved with ASME by reviving a long-neglected ASME Student Section. At that time he also realized that he wanted to secure a position with GE’s Operations Management Leadership Program (OMLP) offered at its Greenville GE Vernova facility. This two-year program made up of four, six-month rotations allows participants to build leadership, functional, and real-life skills.
To gain a much-needed edge in the application process, Bondarchuk looked to join an engineering club and gain leadership experience. At that time, Bob Jones did not have an ASME Student Section. With the help of a professor, and a university interested in starting such a group that is specifically for mechanical engineering, Bondarchuk began the process and reached out to ASME.
ASME Fellow and Greenville Section member Callie Tourigny delivered a career development and interview advice session at the new ASME Student Section at Bob Jones University.
Bondarchuk has been accepted into the GE’s OMLP. He is looking forward to beginning his career and gaining some real world, on-the-job training, starting with a six-month technical rotation—for him a manufacturing engineering position in New Jersey at GE Metem. But he admitted that the prize is securing a full-time position with GE.
“OMLP is a large amount of experience in a very short period of time—a fast track of experience,” he said. When he considers GE and OMLP: “You come in as like a fresh college student,” Bondarchuk explained. “Now, you’re going to lead a group of operators. It can be intimidating. But I am looking forward to and getting ready to learn a lot.”
Cathy Cecere is membership content program manager.
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