Why Use a 3D Foot Measurement Device for Custom-Made Orthotic Insoles?

Ordinary measurements are generally carried out using rulers, protractors, and other measuring tools, and this type of measurement can only measure length, width, and other dimensions, which can only be regarded as two-dimensional data and cannot measure complete three-dimensional data.

By using a 3D foot measurement device, the complete 3D data of the entire foot can be measured under weight-bearing, non-weight-bearing, and other conditions, obtaining complete 3D foot model data, including arch height, arch curvature, rearfoot varus and valgus angles, toe shape, bone prominence positions, and other data.

When making custom insoles, measuring the dimensions of the foot is a necessary step.

If manual plaster or foam molding is used, it is easy to have uneven force during stepping, plaster deformation, and other problems, causing some micro-curvature data to be lost, and the measurement accuracy is also not high, resulting in relatively large errors.

Through 3D foot scanning, we can not only obtain 3D foot data, but also evaluate the type of the arch, such as whether there is flat foot, high arch, foot varus, foot valgus, and other conditions, and the measurement data has relatively high accuracy, basically reaching millimeter-level accuracy, with an accuracy of up to 0.5 mm, which can effectively avoid subjective human errors and make the data more accurate.

When we make custom insoles, the core is not to make an insole that is the same as the foot, but to add support at corresponding positions, release pressure, correct the alignment of the force line, and so on according to the characteristics of our foot shape, so that the insoles made in this way are comfortable to wear and can also provide targeted correction for foot problems.

After 3D foot measurement, STL and other formats of 3D data can be obtained, and these formats of data can be directly imported into professional insole design software for digital modeling.

Designers can directly perform targeted personalized and corrective designs in the software according to the measurement report, such as adjusting support, adding pressure-relief grooves, adjusting thickness, and so on.

After the design is completed, the data can be directly exported, then professionally processed, and imported into an insole engraving machine or insole 3D printer for insole production, and generally, making a pair of custom insoles can be completed within 1–3 hours, shortening the production time, improving efficiency, allowing customers to receive their products faster, improving customer experience, promoting repeat purchases, and so on.

If manual molding is used, processes such as mold duplication and mold modification are also required, the steps are numerous, the process is complicated, and it will also cause errors to accumulate, while the production time is longer, the quality is difficult to reach the ideal state, the efficiency is low, the cost is high, and customer satisfaction is also low.

With a 3D digital model, insoles can be made with high efficiency and good quality, customer satisfaction is better, and the data can be archived, reused, and reproduced, so when customers purchase again later, there is no need to measure again, and the data can be directly recalled.

If making functional insoles, such as flat-foot correction insoles or high-arch correction insoles, it is recommended to combine the measurement data from a plantar pressure measurement device for the design.

Through plantar pressure data, we can know where the pressure on the sole of the foot is too high, thereby making more reasonable and precise biomechanical support and pressure-relief designs, and producing insoles with better corrective effects.