3D Hand-Printing Service Stations

I am so thrilled to watch the rapid growth of 3D printing for prosthetics. There is an ongoing community called e-NABLE on Google+ and Facebook that is connecting engineers with 3D printers with children and adults with hand differences. That combination is making it possible for more and more people to get the opportunity to try using prosthetic fingers created with the help of a 3D printer. (If you want to learn more details behind the e-NABLE group, read an older blog post I wrote on the organization.)

The Rochester Institute of Technology plans to take that production to a new level. During its yearly Imagine RIT event, engineers plan to demonstrate and prototype an e-NABLE Service Station. Adults and children are invited to visit Rochester, New York to experience how the service station works during the event. My mind is a bit blown with this awesome idea. I can’t wait to see what comes of it. The idea is when a person with a hand difference walks up to the service station, he or she can get measured and arrange to have a custom hand designed.

It’s an awesome opportunity to pitch in on an effort to make it even easier for people with hand differences to get access to 3D printed hands. If you live close by and are interested in attending, all you need to do is RSVP to the Facebook event. Or you can email the founder of e-NABLE, John Schull.