University of Central Florida (UCF) Engineering Students have developed a robotic arm for 6-year-old Alex Pring, who was born without a right arm, using a Stratasys 3D Printer and ivory ABS.
Aerospace engineering Ph.D. student and Fulbright Scholar Albert Manero is a volunteer at E-Nable, a network of 3D printing enthusiasts whose goal is to develop 3D prosthetic hands for those in need. Manero met Alex and his family through the E-Nable online network.
Manero, along with his team, dedicated seven weeks for their design. The Dimension Elite 3D Printer delivered rapid design iteration during the process and the Ivory ABS material used was strong, yet light enough for Alex to easily move.
"He learned to use the prosthetic fast," Manero said. "When he could control it, the first thing he did was hug his mother. He said it was their first real hug. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. I think 3D printing is revolutionising our world in many ways. I believe changing the world of prosthetics is very real," adds Manero. "Stratasys tools with UCF ingenuity will change the world."
The UCF team will continue to look for new ways to improve their design. As Alex gets older, the team will be able to 3D print a larger arm for a fraction of the cost of traditional prosthetics. "I can shake two people's hands at once," Alex joked. The team plans to publish the design files online for public access with instructions to 3D print it so more lives can be transformed.
"3D printing is changing the way prosthetics are designed and produced in ways previously not possible," said Gilad Gans, president, Stratasys North America. "It's a remarkable feeling when you see how 3D printing gives a kid the chance to live a happy life like other kids."