Case Study: Hong Kong Polytechnic University achieves rapid, low-cost development of the Snaker Spoon with Stratasys 3D printing

PolyU wins the Gold Award with “Snaker Spoon" invention

Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Occupational Therapy team developed the Snaker Spoon to help people with upper-limb disabilities eat independently, but faced lengthy, costly iteration and material challenges when moving from concept to a usable product. To accelerate design and test multiple form/fit iterations, the team used Stratasys 3D printing resources at PolyU — including the J750 and F900 printers and materials like Digital ABS and ASA — leveraging PolyJet and FDM technologies.

Stratasys’ printers and materials enabled fast, high-fidelity prototypes and low‑volume production: the team achieved full prototypes in 25–30 hours (including post‑processing) versus 30–45 days for CNC/molding, cut costs by up to 40%, and reduced iteration time by more than 90%. The accuracy and multi‑material capability of Stratasys solutions produced a durable, adjustable Snaker Spoon (36 handle/spoon angle combinations) and demonstrated a viable path to scale similar assistive utensils.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Kristy Fung

Developer