The Prosthetic 3D Printing Revolution

The e-NABLE Community is an amazing group of individuals from all over the world who come together and collaborate on ways to help improve the open-source 3D printable designs for hands and arms for those who were born missing fingers or who have lost them due to war, disease or natural disaster. As of November 2019, there have been approximately 7,000 3D printed hands and arms created and gifted to children and adults in need in over 100 countries around the world. There are an estimated 30,000 e-NABLE Volunteers (including students and teachers) who are helping to make a difference in their local communities, clinics, and schools all across the globe.

In this session we will review the history of the e-NABLE Community, and how some scrap metal and a 5-year old South African boy named Liam, born with missing fingers due to Amniotic Band Syndrome, made a difference to change the world for the better. We will focus on the required elements and techniques needed to begin the creation of 3D prosthetic printing. This includes scanning and measuring techniques, adding style and colors, and designing based on existing abilities when considering the difficulty in print and assembly of designs. We will also discuss bionics (robotic hands), specialty adaptors (bike handlebar, guitar pick), and animal prosthetics.

Individuals who might be interested in joining the Prosthetic 3D Printing Revolution are encouraged to attend, as we hope to continue the conversation and create a WesternU team to help “e-NABLE the future” and expand upon this generous community.