e-NABLE has grown from a couple of kindhearted 3D printing enthusiasts to the largest network of volunteers dedicated to 3D printing low-cost prosthetics for those in need. The organization has become so big that even Google awarded $600,000 grant to the non-profit as a part of their Google Impact Challenge. And, today, the organization has found yet another powerful partner in the fight to arm kids. Leading industry player 3D Systems has announced a partnership with the e-NABLE Community Foundation (ECF) to develop a new 3D printable prosthetic hand file for printing on 3D Systems printers.
Currently, anyone with a 3D printer can be connected to someone in need of a prosthetic hand via e-NABLE and begin customizing one of the organization’s designs using their Hand-O-Matic app, hosted on YouMagine. With this new partnership, 3DS and ECF will connect with at least four university labs to join in the project. These ECF Partner Labs will be given a slew of 3D Systems products – including CubePro 3D printers, Sense 3D scanners, design software, and the Touch 3D stylus – with which to create patient-specific hands. Like all of e-NABLE’s prosthetics, the file will be free and publicly shared, along with a tutorial video on how to print and assemble the device. 3D Systems will also be serving as a technical advisor to ECF, as well as developing a curriculum for bringing the design and manufacturing of 3D printed prosthetics into classrooms.
Avi Reichental, President and CEO of 3D Systems, said of the initiative, “Our technology unlocks everyone’s potential to transform great ideas into real outcomes. By teaming up with the e-NABLE community, we are giving more people the means and the skills to improve lives.” Jon Schull, President of the Enable Community Foundation, added, “We are excited to welcome 3D Systems into partnership with ECF and look forward to leveraging their solutions and expertise to further our reach and impact. It’s notable that 3DS has the vision to open-source their K1 hand so that all sorts of people can use it and learn from it.”
Interestingly, the prosthetic hand design was made by 3DS’ industrial designer Evan Kuester, who designed the Iron Man prosthetic seen in the now famous Robert Downey Jr. video made by Limbitless Solutions. The K1 design will be unveiled at the upcoming Capitol Hill Maker Faire on June 11, as well as the National Maker Faire on June 12 and 13 at the University of the District of Columbia. At the National Maker Faire, ECF will also be hosting workshops utilizing Cube 3D printers.
The partnership both benefits e-NABLE and 3DS significantly. By partnering with 3DS, e-NABLE has a powerful industry ally, industry expertise, and new printers and university partners, while 3DS further strengthens its work in prosthetics and aligns itself with an organization that is well-perceived by Makers and the mainstream alike. Needless to say, the disabled community benefits by the fact that more volunteers and businesses are working to improve and distribute low-cost prosthetics to a greater number of people, while bringing awareness to their cause.
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