3D printing technologies are pushing the boundaries of what was once considered only possible in science fiction novels. The advances being made by engineers from around the world are contributing to a plethora of innovations that are having a major impact on conventional medical practice. Medical researchers have been able to develop solutions in the form of patient-specific prostheses and pre-operative models, tailored, corrective insoles and orthotics, new medical devices and instruments, and 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering. In this article, we will provide a brief review of some of the latest 3D printing technologies and methods that are inspiring medical research.

Pre-operative planning, prostheses, and implants

The rapid prototyping capability of 3D printing is offering the medical community a fast and cost-effective way of delivering life-altering medical interventions and solutions to patients. For individuals that require a prosthesis or implants such as a bionic hand or leg bone, 3D printing is providing a functional and affordable way to generate patient-tailored parts. The technology offers complete design freedom and rapid turn-around times. 

Using high-resolution images, 3D printing is able to generate accurate models of human anatomy. Image data can be exported as a common medical file format, DICOM (digital imaging and communication in medicine), which can then be converted into a stereolithography format (STL) file. From this file, a 3D virtual model can be created. For orthopedic surgery, implants can be made from these models to replace fractured bones. Further, virtual or physical models can be used by surgeons in pre-operative planning and for teaching patients, alleviating their stress and anxiety by explaining what a procedure would entail.

Biological tissue generation

In early June of this year, scientists from the University of Colorado (UC) Denver and the University of Science and Technology in China were the first to use new material to 3D print structures that could mimic cartilage. Cartilage replacement has been a notoriously difficult hurdle to cross for scientists and healthcare professionals until now. UC Denver’s mechanical engineer, professor Chris Yakacki, led the team of researchers in using a 3D printing process called digital light processing (DLP) to create a liquid crystal resin-like substance. When exposed to UV-light the researchers observed that the substance cured and formed new bonds in several thin photopolymer layers. The final cured form constituted a strong, yet soft, and compliant elastomer. when printed as a latticed, honeycomb structure, that’s when Yakacki and his team saw that it began to resemble cartilage. Their research findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials.

In addition to utilizing this breakthrough material for cartilage replacement, Yakacki also believes there is potential for liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) to be used in the creation of a spinal cage prototype. The design of complex structures like LCE’s and the use of bioinks to help produce artificial live tissue will provide the medical research community with unique scaffolds with which to generate different components of the human body.

Bioinks

One particular area gaining interest by researchers and clinicians is the design of patient-specific bone grafts. Associate professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, Dr. Akhilesh Gaharwar, believes that developing replacement bone tissues may be an exciting prospect in the generation of treatments to help people with dental infections, arthritis, craniofacial defects, and bone fractures. This is where bioinks enter the scene. In a recent publication, Dr. Gaharwar outlines the creation of a structurally stable, biodegradable, and highly printable bioink. Garharwar’s nanoengineered ionic covalent entanglement (NICE) bioinks involve two reinforcement techniques known as nonreinforcement and ionic-covalent network. The use of these two techniques results in much more stable tissue structures.

Following bioprinting, the NICE networks form crosslinks with encapsulated stem cells to create stronger scaffolds. Within the period of three months, the cells start to produce cartilage-like extracellular matrix which calcifies to form mineralized bone. The team used next-generation RNA-sequencing technology to establish the role of nanosilicates (a component of the bioink) in inducing the formation of bone tissue. Dr. Gaharwar and his team successfully demonstrated the ability of NICE bioink to create patient-specific implantable 3D frameworks for the repair of craniofacial defects.

Orthoses

Medical research centered around the custom design of orthotics still bears the stigma of a high price tag and inaccessibility which can be an irritable deterrent for healthcare providers trying to do the best for their patients and a disheartening prospect for patients respectively. The revelatory story of Matej and his son Nik, shows how powerful a tool 3D printing can be in advancing medical and engineering research, efficient medical practice, and optimizing patient care.

One of the latest uses for 3D printing in the world of orthotics was the design of a cervical collar using a novel workflow for a patient with a neurological disability with no alternative means of therapy. Dr. Luke Hale and Associate Professor Dr. Deepak Kalaskar from UCL’s Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences (IOMS) led the research which was published in Scientific Reports. The research team scanned the head and neck of the patient with a handheld scanner to generate a 3D scan mesh. This framework was then imported into Houdini software (SideFX software, version 16.5). The geometry projected onto the 3D scan conforms with it completely to create a comfortable orthosis.

Using the scan, the design of the orthosis was optimized to incorporate modifications including a porous pattern to improve ventilation. This also reduces the cost and weight of the final orthosis. Four prototypes of the cervical collar were made to accommodate patient feedback and achieve the most comfortable design. The research validated the use of using 3D printing and scanning alongside a tailored workflow for clinically beneficial outcomes while allowing for iteration, modification, and improvement of the design.

These are only some of the latest medical research advancements coming to fruition with the revolutionary technology of 3D printing. 4D printing and the use of novel bioinks for organ tissue generation are some more fascinating research prospects to look forward to in 2020. 

Are you a veteran of medical 3D printing looking for a bespoke manufacturing service, or, are you new to the scene and would like expert guidance? Find out how Shapeways can help with your medical 3D printing needs.

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Open Bionics’ “Hero Arm”

Open Bionics, a company out of Bristol in the UK, created the Hero Arm, the first medically certified 3D printed myoelectric bionic hand. Open Bionics can scan the arm of any individual over the age of 8 to create a bespoke prosthesis that fits comfortably, is drastically more affordable than typical prosthetics and is also customizable. The wearer can choose from a number of different covers to get the colors and look that fits their personality. The company also partnered with Disney to create superhero themed hands for kids. These bionic arms have a multi-grip hand with 3 or 4 motors controlling its individual fingers and thumb. The prosthesis weighs 1kg and is able to lift up to 8kg/17.64lbs.

E-Nable’s Volunteer Network for Prosthetic Hands

E-Nable is a volunteer-based organization that pairs people with access to 3D printers with people who need prosthetic hands. Anyone can download one of the available designs to make one’s own device or be matched with a volunteer nearby who will print and assemble for someone else. People can also be directed to 3D printers nearby if they wish to print and build their own. Any of the designs can also be printed through Shapeways and shipped anywhere.

E-Nable began when Ivan Owen, a professional artist, created a metal hand with moving fingers for a steampunk convention. He then started working on designing prosthetic hands and working on a new hand for a young boy who was born without fingers. After realizing it would become very expensive to keep creating new hands as Liam grew, he turned to 3D printing. After a prototype was refined, the design for the hand was uploaded to the internet as an open-source file so that anyone in need could download it. More and more people became interested in helping to print these hands and a worldwide network of volunteers quickly grew. Now there are volunteers all over the world creating hands based on these designs. In 2018, the Million Waves Project teamed up with E-Nable to collect recycled plastic waste found on beaches and in the ocean to turn into filament for the creation of more prosthetic hands.

While the field of 3D printed prosthetics is still developing, it is already allowing for more people in need to have access to prosthetics. The affordability of 3D printing, especially with E-Nable’s community of volunteers means that children growing at a fast rate are able to change out their prosthetic hand when they need to. 3D printing also facilitates the participation of more people, the introduction of new designs and ideas and to make customized, special pieces that enhance people’s bodies and lives. If you would like to design and print your own prosthetic limb for someone in need, you can do so through Shapeways now.

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3D printed protein models by Biologic Models

3D printing medical applications are gaining tremendous momentum in the medical industry. As technology advances, 3D printers have progressed quickly, and the printing process is so precise that 3D printers can now even replicate the vascular systems needed to make organs viable. This technology is vital as over 114,000 people in the U.S. are on organ transplant waiting lists.

3D printing applications in medicine go well beyond recreating vascular systems. Here’s a look at the current various medical applications for 3D printing.

3D Printing Technology Commercially Available for Medical Applications

There are four primary uses of 3D printing in the medical industry today.

• Tissues and organoids
• Custom prosthetics
• Surgical instruments
• Surgical models that are specific to each patient

Scientists are currently researching how to manufacture organs such as a liver or heart using the 3D printing process. This technology is developing rapidly because of the necessity to find less expensive alternatives to current medical solutions. As a result, complex life-saving procedures are available to more people.

There are several available technologies currently used for 3D printing medical applications. Powder bed fusion is the one most commonly used to 3D print medical devices. Medical 3D printing uses this technology because of its compatibility with many materials used to make medical devices such as nylon and titanium.

Currently, the FDA has 3D printers that help them understand the capabilities of 3D printing for medical applications and how the general public can benefit from the industry’s use of this technology. They have other printing technologies along with 3D printing that they use to evaluate which parts of the workflows and processes of the printing affect the quality of the medical device once it’s finished.

Revolutionary 3D Printing Medical Application

Sometimes known as bioprinting, 3D printing is transforming the medical industry. It’s making surgical procedures faster and providing less-expensive solutions for creating prosthetic limbs and surgical tools.

3D printing is even replicating organoids and tissues, so physicians can learn more about how they function and the diseases that affect them.

Current 3D printing medical applications use imaging such as CT scans, MRI scans, X-Rays, and ultrasounds to create a digital model of the organ or tissue to be 3D printed. Physicians then upload scans to a 3D printer. Per Verdict Medical Devices, 3D printing for the medical field is forecasted to reach $3.5 billion by 2025. The main 3D printing medical applications are revolutionizing the medical field enhancing patient care.

Bioprinting- Organoids and Tissue Engineering

Physicians like surgeon Dr. Jason Chuen of the Austin Hospital in Melbourne say that 3D printing medical organs help doctors practice surgical procedures such as placing a stent in a heart. Dr. Chuen advised that with a model or organoid made from images of the actual patient, he could assess the bioprinted model much easier than the patient’s heart.

Evaluating the bioprinted model allowed him to make sure that the stent he would use was the correct size. Testing the size of a stent in a real patient clearly isn’t possible because of the invasiveness of the surgery. 3D printing technology makes this a viable option.

Organoids mimic actual organs only smaller opening up endless possibilities for everything from testing medical procedures to learning more about diseases. Medical companies such as Organovo are experimenting with 3D printing intestinal tissue and livers to study these organs in vitro and to help develop drug treatments for diseases.

The company announced in May 2018 that they had preclinical information on how liver tissue functions in a study of type one tyrosinemia. Tyrosinemia is a liver condition that affects how the body metabolizes tyrosine, an amino acid, because of its deficiency in the body.

Wake Forest Institute utilized a related approach to develop a brain organoid that could allow scientists to discover new drugs and for disease modeling. “In May 2018, they publicized that their organoids have a fully cell-based, functional blood-brain barrier that mimics normal human anatomy.” Wake Forest is also working on printing 3D skin grafts to apply to burn patients.

Rehearsing Surgical Procedures

Surgical rehearsal using bioprinted organoids helps surgeons’ practice to perform surgeries faster to reduce patient trauma, and the cost savings are substantial. It also allows surgeons to navigate complicated medical procedures.

Surgeries can cost $2,000 an hour so reducing how long it takes to do surgery can decrease the cost of operations considerably. Surgeons have rehearsed a broad range of procedures from spinal operations to full-face transplants. This 3D printing medical application is becoming a routine practice.

In Belfast in January 2019, surgeons practiced before a young woman’s kidney transplant successfully using a bioprinted model of the donor’s kidney. Her father was the organ donor, and there were many complications because his kidney had a dangerous cyst and his blood group wasn’t compatible with hers. Bioprinting allowed surgeons to find the location of the cyst and assess how big it was.

Physicians in Dubai operated on a patient who had a severe cerebral aneurysm using a bioprinted map of her blood vessels to traverse her arteries safely. This surgery was complicated as the aneurysm was in four veins.

3D Printing Helps Find Alternative Drug Treatments for Patients

Patients suffering from a variety of ailments often need to take several drugs each day for treatment. 3D printing allows researchers to customize medicines possibly reducing many pills to one. With 3D printing, scientists can practice embedding more than one drug in a single capsule designed to release each drug at different times. A polypill containing three different medications has already been created to treat patients with hypertension and diabetes. 3D printing medical applications involving pharmacology have the potential to change patient treatment in the future tremendously.

Custom Tailored Prosthetics and Implants for Patients

Researchers at Wake Forest are already 3D printing muscle, bone, and ear structures that they’ve transplanted in animals to see how they would function in humans. These implants have developed blood vessel systems and functional tissues, which means that these bioprinted structures have the correct strength, size, and function to use in people.

These experiments proved that bioprinting living tissue structures to replace those diseased in patients is possible. Wake Forest researchers accomplished this using a conventional inkjet printer that they modified.

3D printing medical applications such as custom-made prosthetics are providing custom-made highly functioning prosthetics for people. It also speeds up the process as often amputees must wait weeks or sometimes months to get their prostheses using traditional methods.

3D printing makes the process quicker and is more cost effective since these products are less expensive. This process is particularly cost efficient for children because they outgrow the prosthetics often.

Patients can now design a limb that works with their needs thanks to a company called Body Labs. They’ve developed an innovative system that lets patients create a personalized model for a prosthetic using a scan of their actual limbs. As a result, they fit and feel better.

Surgical Implements

Another 3D printing medical application is the development of surgical implements. This precise process can create a variety of sterile surgical tools such as clamps, hemostats, scalpel handles, and forceps.

3D printing produces sterile and precise tools because of their roots in the practice of Japanese origami. They can also be made very small because of this practice meaning that surgeons can use them to operate in tiny areas causing less damage to patients.

They also cost much less to make using 3D printing, and there was no increased cost for the faster manufacturing times, surgeon requested modifications or increased complexity. One lab test created fully reproducible surgical sets in an average of 6 hours per set. These sets were made using the SLS Sinterstation HiQ.

These 3D printing medical applications are revolutionizing modern medicine and changing the industry rapidly. They are providing cost-effective solutions to maximizing quality patient care at a lower price. This reduced cost means that additional cutting-edge surgical and medical procedures will become available to more people without decreasing the quality of the products or service.

As technology advances, the precision of 3D printing will be fine-tuned making even more medical inventions possible. Researchers hope to one day make organs to transplant in humans although right now there are many cost and technological obstacles to overcome. For one, research and development of 3D printing are costly. Also, while 3D printing can print miniature organs now, scaling is a problem for actual-sized organs.

However, other problems like using donors for tissue matches might resolve by taking cells from the transplant recipient themselves to develop the replacement organ. Using the donor’s tissue could minimize associated risks such as the need for immunosuppressants for life and transplant rejection. Some predict that the first bioprinted complex organs could be available within 20 years.

Despite problems with future organ replacements, 3D printing medical applications are providing amazing results in the field of medicine today. 3D printing is changing the world one industry at a time and plays a crucial part now in saving lives.

3D Print Your Medical Needs

Learn how you can utilize 3D printing for medical use. Contact us today to let us know how we can help.

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Wakanda Forever

Not only did we get to see “Black Panther” this month, we also found out that some important parts of the magic of Wakanda were 3D printed. Working with 3D designer Julia Koerner, legendary costume designer Ruth Carter incorporated 3D printed elements into the film’s regal fashions. Watch the Racked feature on it here.

A still from Racked’s feature on the costumes of “Black Panther”

So many feels

In medical news, we’re going to pull a “This Is Us” and start with… well, you’ll see. That would be this ugly-cry-inducing story from the BBC about rescue doggo Duke, who needed a paw. Luckily, 3D printing was there to give him just that. And in other touching, adorable news, 3D printing is helping visually impaired children in the classroom. Watch the video and feel nothing, we dare you:

But, we’re not done yet with your heart just yet. Ten years ago, professional snowboarder Mike Schultz had an accident that led to the amputation of his left leg. He turned his injury to his advantage, creating a company, BioDapt, that makes the specialty prosthetics sported by this year’s Paralympians — including Mike Schultz himself. Read more about how 3D printing powers his creations at Engadget, and see what adaptive athletes have done with BioDapt’s prostheses, below:

There were a lot of other astounding medical 3D printing accomplishments announced in February. This beautiful brace (the UNYQ Align by Francis Butonti) was displayed this month at the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in NYC. Meanwhile, UK researchers made progress toward creating 3D printed cell tissues, and one startup, BioLife4D, announced that it plans to focus on “building” hearts. Godspeed, BioLife4D.

PROTOTYPE YOUR BIG IDEA

Style is ageless

In up-and-coming style icon news, this month we met incredible teenager Shami Oshun, who taught herself 3D printing for apparel design, which is so much cooler than what I was doing as a teen. See her tweets and bow down:

Hi Twitter, my name is Shami Oshun. I am 18. I taught myself how to 3D print in August 2017. As of today I am the youngest person and first black person to 3D print fashion. I hope this inspires other black girls to pursue careers in tech and fashion #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/OST0ScgttM

— Oshun (@bluexheeta) February 8, 2018

And if you follow car news, you’ll know that Porsche has figured out what you have known for so long: 3D printing is great for replacing parts that don’t exist anymore for the classic things that you love. The iconic, stylish carmaker is 3D printing things like a clutch release lever for the 959. Sounds… like a car thing!

Medtech won’t quit

Thanks to scientists at the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne, we are now closer than ever before to something you might not have even dreamed about, which is printing microscopic devices inside the body. And, in the meantime, their technique could simply deliver super-ultra-high-res 3D prints. Merci, y’all.

In Australia, the excellently named Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics has created something equally excellent: a clip-on smartphone microscope that can help people in remote locations analyze water cleanliness, test blood samples, and detect disease at an early stage. So… our iPhone addictions could save our lives? Right?

It’s 2018. Stop watching ‘Encino Man.’

Brits learned this month that their ancient ancestors looked different than many had imagined. With the help of DNA analysis and 3D printing, a team from London’s Natural History Museum and University College London revealed the face of a 10,000-year-old Cheddar Grove, Somerset man. With dark skin, blue eyes, and curly hair, “Cheddar Man” most surprised people who’d seen “Encino Man” too many times.

If we build it…

A Long Island company has proven that they can 3D print a home that’s 70% cheaper and 200% stronger than traditionally constructed homes. While that company’s paperwork clears, Chinese manufacturer WinSun continues to forge ahead with large-scale 3D printed construction, this month unveiling these Shanghai-area bus shelters.

Not to be outdone, Made in Space printed out the world’s longest single 3D printed piece (a beam) in the world — in their terrestrial offices. Next up: condos on the moon (dibs).

See you in March! And in the meantime…

PRINT SOMETHING

The post The (ALL-NEW) Month in 3D Printing: February Amazed Us appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Florida Man’s Best Tale Yet

We’ve all had some fun with the Florida Man meme from time to time. But just as the only reason that that meme exists is Florida’s amazing open records law, not all Florida Man reports have unhappy (or weird) stories behind them. St. Petersburg, Florida man Francisco Piedra fell onto some hard luck when a side effect of a medication used during heart surgery left him a quadruple amputee. Unable to afford the prosthetics he needed, Piedra relied on the help of the Hanger Clinic for his legs and the volunteers of e-NABLE for 3D printed prosthetic hands. Read more of the heartwarming tale here. And never laugh at another Florida Man story again (unless it involves alligators).

Want to 3D Print Your Medical Needs? We can help.

A simple model like this one can be used to create 3D printed prosthetics for patients like Francisco Piedra (Photo by IntelFreePress on VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA)

Blowing Up Your Feed

Ok, this story might not go viral, but a printer that can print layers of explosives’ components, eliminating the need for humans to touch each of those components or the final, explosive mixture — well, that’s actually a very big deal. A group of researchers at Purdue University developed a specialized printer with a mobile print bed (rather than a moveable nozzle), which builds an ignitable nanothermite material out of layers of other nanomaterials. Discover the explosive final feat of the research at Interesting Engineering.

Like a FitBit for Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig

The Internet of Things has now extended to plants: Iowa State University has developed “tattoo sensors” that attach to leaves. These “wearables” can measure the transpiration from plants, so scientists can develop plants with greater drought-resistance. The sensors are also cheap — costing, ultimately, cents. Learn all the details here, and remember: one day your plants will be able to tell you when you’ve been neglecting them.

Photo courtesy Iowa State University

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

The more a 3D print differs from its original file, the more compromised its ability to do the job it’s being printed for. It’s a problem that will only get bigger as everything from cars to spaceships get 3D printed parts. Fortunately a group of North Dakota researchers has made progress in solving it. Using sensor data from digital imaging, their just-patented system either compares the print with a reference print or with its CAD model in real time, as the print progresses. Learn how routine printer maintenance birthed this brilliance here.

Sick Burn

This year’s Burning Man will feature a digitally fabricated Temple (a central feature of Black Rock City, which you can learn more about here). The design, called Galaxia, will center around a 3D printed mandala. Somewhat sadly, the structure will be built, only to be destroyed. In Silicon Valley, this is considered profound. See more gorgeous photos of the planned structure here.

Photo courtesy Mamou-Mani

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#DutchPride, Part Deux

The Netherlands is really making this Dutch-born company feel all warm and fuzzy lately. First, the world’s first 3D printed cycling bridge opened in Gemert, and now, Amsterdam is on the verge of welcoming 3D printed floors and an even cooler 3D printed bridge to its historic environs. Yes, we’re bragging. Learn more at FastCoDesign and Slash Gear.

Beating Cancer, One 3D Print at a Time

Last week we encountered a 3D printed sternum. Now, the BBC brings us the story of a woman saved with a 3D printed titanium jawbone. The implant represents a vast improvement over the old take-some-fibula-and-make-it-work method. Heck, 3D printing has even improved that old-fashioned fibula jaw implant method by providing a 3D model of the patient’s jawbone that can be used to cut precisely fitting pieces of the fibula. These latest successes could mean a future where no bone is unrepairable.

Interested in 3D printing for your medical needs? We can help.

3D printed jaw implant recipient Debbie Hawkins and her medical team (image via ABM Health Board)

Multi-Material Magic

Silicone 3D printing has been a somewhat elusive goal, but German 3D printer company ACEO has reached it, and then some. As TCT reported, the company will debut multi-material silicone 3D printing at Form Next in Frankfurt next month. “Silicones of different colors, hardness or even chemical or physical properties can now be placed independent from each other at any given point throughout the process,” explained Dr. Bernd Pachaly, the project lead. This could have all kinds of applications in medical modeling, product development, and mass manufacturing of silicone 3D prints. And, it’s a big step toward printing multi-material machines and biomimicking models. That means we’re just a little bit closer to the “Star Trek replicator” dream.

A piece of multi-material 3D printed silicone (Photo: ACEO®; Wacker Chemie AG)

Threat…itunity!

What’s a threatitunity? I’m so glad you asked. It’s that combination of a clearly foreseeable challenge (threat) and the time needed to develop the tools to face it (opportunity). And that is what we have on our hands with 3D printing cybersecurity. As the Harvard Business Review discussed this week, hacks could lead to the physical instability of printed parts, which can pose incredible dangers, obviously, but also the kind of product recall nightmares that keep employees, CEOs, and shareholders up at night. If we can’t solve this, the era of mass manufacturing with 3D printing is threatened. Thankfully, as the technology develops, novel solutions are coming to light. Challenges + brains = innovations. And that’s a threatitunity.

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3D modeling provides a faster, more accurate way of designing prosthetics unique to their wearers. But custom prosthetics have been around for millennia — for the wealthy. 3D printing has ushered in an era wherein prosthetics are actually affordable. In fact, they’re much more affordable than traditionally manufactured devices. And, the possibilities for personalization are greater than ever before. Enter Form.

Form is nothing less than part of a new reality. Far from the purely necessary, functional, medical, and clinical, Form turns prosthetics into fabulous, futuristic accessories.

Their product range includes leg prosthesis covers in over 30 colors and dozens of styles, including below-knee 3D art (3D sculpted) covers, below-knee printed art covers, and above-knee 3D art covers.

inspired? print your design

Form prints their covers at Shapeways in our sturdy Strong & Flexible Plastic, then post-processes them to take on the rich hues and high-shine finishes you see in the photos above and below.

Prosthetics themselves must prioritize function over form, leaving little room for creativity on the part of the designer or the wearer. Form recognizes that while a prosthetic becomes part of the body, functionally, it can also express its wearer’s personality.

The prosthetic covers range from sleek and subtle to maximalist and pop-art-inspired. Because some days, you’re feeling more sexy android, and others, more artsy tastemaker.

Right now, the company processes orders from Australia and New Zealand only. In the meantime, here’s sneak peek:

prototype your work

The post Form Prosthetics Let You Be You appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

That’s Nice

We love telling you about amazing girls doing cool stuff, and this girl, well, she is our hero this week. As ZDNet reported, little Hailey Dawson was born without all her fingers. Her options for prostheses were limited to ultra-expensive models that her family couldn’t afford. So, students and faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas stepped in to develop 3D-printed hands for Hailey. And now, thanks to a robotic hand they developed, she’s throwing out the first pitches at baseball games all over the country, including Game Four of the World Series. Keep your eyes on Hailey — a future as the first prosthesis-packing pro pitcher might just be ahead.

This girl!

Machines Learn to Build Bridges

It was a while ago when we first heard about MX3D’s plan to print a steel bridge designed by Joris Laarman. Today, we’re almost there. But, it took some redesigns (Amsterdam’s a pretty old place, and this is a brand-new kind of bridge) plus some amazing machine learning algorithms to get the bridge to print in a structurally sound way. Learn more in FastCoDesign’s feature on the span’s development and what it means for future projects. As for us, we can’t wait to cross that bridge… when we come to it.

Feeling Lighter Than Air

Airplanes are heavy, and each additional pound plays out in the extraordinary amount of extremely expensive fuel needed to fly them. But don’t worry, the aeronautics industry is not trying to recoup all that money via exorbitant baggage fees. As the New Scientist reported, they’re also working on using nanoparticles to make 3D printed aluminum strong enough to hold up to welding. That would make it possible to replace thousands of metal rivets and fasteners with strong, lightweight 3D printed aluminum products. Which could means thousands of gallons of fuel saved, possibly even saving the earth from climate change’s worst-case-scenario effects. A girl can dream.

Getting Ripped, Layer by Layer

We talk a lot about the magic of medical 3D printing applications. And so do a lot of other publications. All of those (amazing, hope-inducing, inspiring) applications mimic, in some way, the human form, to improve the health of humans. But what about robots? It stands to reason this would not be far behind: A group of researchers at Columbia University has created an actuator that imitates muscle matter, which expands and contracts to move robotic limbs. This might have applications in prosthetics, but for right now, it’s robots-only. When the robots come for us, they will be even more like us than we ever imagined!

Right now, they’re helping this guy bulk up. (photo via Columbia University)

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One Person’s Waste… Is Another Person’s Plastic

Astronauts will need a lot of plastic to make sure their 3D printers have the filament to fill gaps in their supplies during long missions. The thing about going to space (or to another planet) is that you have to bring everything with you, whether you’re making vitamins or plastic tools. Enter the almighty power of urine. Yes, as it turns out, blending urine with yeast can produce plastic (and the omega 3 fatty acids we need to stay healthy). For more on how this works, read the full rundown at Futurism, and check out the video below. At some point, we’re going to have to stop calling it waste.

Nerves of Ceramic

While most of us might not think of porcelain as a particularly strong material, researchers at HRL Laboratories beg to differ. As ever-alert Futurism reported, the company has won an award from NASA that will fund their work in 3D printed ceramic rocket engine parts. The work they’ll do for NASA builds on their research into converting preceramic resins into heat-resistant ceramic materials. HRL’s Dr. Tobias A. Schaedler explained, “3D printing could completely change what ceramic parts look like and where they are applied in rocket engines.” Check out how HRL 3D prints ceramic in the video below. And imagine what this could do for your chipped dinnerware.

Mama, Is That You?

Every great technology has its beginnings. For 3D printing, the genesis came when Charles Hull’s SLA-1 hit the market in 1987. Hull had patented the Stereolithography (SLA) process, which builds layers onto 3D prints with a UV laser that solidifies layers of liquid photosensitive material. Now, the SLA-1 has received Historical Landmark designation. Read more at MachineDesign.com, and take a minute to admire the nifty plaque below that commemorates the milestone. At 30, 3D printing’s best days are still ahead.

All Up in Arms

Two feel-good stories came out of the world of assistive devices in the past week. The first, reported by ZDNet, brings us the feats of two students at the University of Antwerp, who have developed robotic arms that can translate sign language. ASLAN, or “Antwerp’s Sign Language Actuating Node” is made up of an Arduino Due, 25 3D printed parts, 16 servo motors, and three motor controllers. The pair have made the plans available for free, making this truly a labor of love. For that, they deserve (at least) a hand.

And finally, Mashable brought us the heartwarming tale of a 3D printed robotic arm that brings together a number of state-of-the-art prosthetics technologies in an affordable package. The work of 21-year-old Easton LaChappelle and Microsoft, the 3D printed arm was developed for a girl named Momo, and is already helping her live her best life. Watch the whole story at Mashable, and bask in the glow of some honest-to-goodness hope — all courtesy 3D printing.

The post The Week in 3D Printing: Waste in Space, the Mother of All 3D Printers, and a Win-Win Arms Race appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

To the Moon!

It’s finally happened: a (mostly) 3D printed rocket engine has blasted into space! Taking off from New Zealand, the Electron rocket engine was printed in 24 hours and is more efficient and higher-performing than other existing rocket systems. 3D printed components are ideal for space travel because they can be designed to provide incredible strength with little actual material use — making them lighter, and therefore more flight-ready. There are still a lot of challenges to overcome before 3D printing itself will work robustly off-planet. And that’s why we decided to set up shop on Earth. FOR NOW.

Down to Earth, But Still Out of This World

Michelin has unveiled a 3D printed tire-and-wheel concept that might just blow your mind (just watch the video). Not only is it made from recycled materials, it’s also printed as a single part, and is puncture-proof. I’m not sure we’ll quite reach the printing speeds required for a roadside wheel print anytime soon, but hey, throw those alternate snow tires in the trunk and you’re good to go. Good job, Michelin — you’ve literally reinvented the wheel.

Helping Amputee Kids Reach for the Stars

What’s the cutest, sweetest, most touching thing you can imagine? How about this little girl, holding a ball with her new 3D printed prosthesis? Bristol, England-based Bristol Bionics is working to give amputee kids low-cost hands, all (yep, it gets cute again) based on Disney characters! The aim is to give kids something they’ll want to show off, rather than something they’ll want to hide. I mean, with little Tilly and her Deus Ex-themed hand, I feel like she’ll be the most popular kid in school. She would definitely be the most popular kid in our office.

Courtesy Open Bionics

We’ll Always Have Pittsburgh…

“They” are calling Steel City the next Silicon Valley of 3D printing, and folks from The ‘Burgh are like, “We’re proud to be the Pittsburgh of 3D printing, thanks.” But seriously, with companies like GE at the forefront and brainpower flowing in from Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, and Robert Morris University, Steel City has all of the potential to become, once again, an American manufacturing hub — but with the environmental sustainability of additive manufacturing at its core. Sounds like this slice of America could be even greater this time around….

Right on Track

Forbes’ Alex Knapp brought us the story of racing’s acclaimed Team Penske, who have signed a deal with Stratasys to 3D print prototype parts, car components, and tools to maximize performance on the racing track. With the speed at which these cars travel, it’s no surprise that Team Penske is tapping into digital manufacturing to maximize production efficiency. Plus, you can innovate and iterate at breakneck speed, leading to lighter, more efficient parts. See a trend?

Careful, This Axe Shreds

A Swedish designer and professor has created the world’s first 3D printed aluminum electric guitar. While not everyone’s a fan, this is a musical feat we can get excited about. Especially because the designer has a band that plays with 3D printed instruments. Maybe they can play our company party?

The post The Week in 3D Printing: Good News? Yes Please! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.