Rock Hill, South Carolina – 3D Systems officials announced that it has partnered with to e-NABLE Community Foundation (ECF) support e-NABLE, the global network of makers, inventors and designers using 3D printing to make functional, prosthetic hands that are donated to people in need. Building upon 3DS' mission of Making Good, this partnership leverages the company's 3D digital fabrication products, services, and expertise to expand access to, improve the capabilities of, and educate the public about these life-changing assistive devices.
"Our technology unlocks everyone's potential to transform great ideas into real outcomes," said Avi Reichental, president and CEO, 3DS. "By teaming up with the e-NABLE community, we are giving more people the means and the skills to improve lives."
3DS and ECF announced four key areas of collaboration as part of their partnership.
- 3DS will collaborate with ECF to design an all-new hand. This design will be free, publicly-shared, customizable for sizing and optimized for printing on the Cube, CubePro and EKOCYCLE Cube. To encourage and support greater community participation, 3DS and ECF will publish a video tutorial on how to print and assemble the free hand file.1
- 3DS will provide technical advisory, aiding ECF with key industry and technical expertise on 3D technology, prosthetics design and more.
- 3DS and ECF will identify four or more university-based labs to qualify them as e-NABLE partners. These will be equipped with 3DS' digital fabrication tools, including CubePro 3D printers, premium material cartridges, Sense 3D scanners, design software and the Touch 3D stylus.2
- 3DS and ECF will collaborate to develop learning materials for formal and informal educators, introducing and facilitating 3D design and printing relating to ECF's mission of sharing 3D-printed assistive technologies.
"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," said Jon Schull, Enable Community Foundation President. "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."
The 3DS and ECF partnership was celebrated at the Capitol Hill Maker Faire June 11 and the National Maker Faire June 12-13 at the University of the District of Columbia, where ECF hosted workshops using 3DS' Cube 3D printers.
At both Maker Faire events, 3DS showcased its new prosthetic hand design, which was optimized for printing on the Cube and CubePro 3D printers. The stunning prosthetic was designed by 3DS' industrial designer Evan Kuester. Kuester also designed the "Iron Man" prosthetic for the University of Central Florida that was presented to a young boy by Robert Downey Jr. Kuester and other 3DS experts were on hand to support the e-NABLE workshops and provided technical advice at both events.
1 Mechanical, prosthetic hands that are intended for use in the United States are regulated under FDA product code IRA. They are exempt from premarket activities and good manufacturing practices, but do require establishments to be registered and comply with general record keeping and complaint handling.
2 3DS will work with ECF Partner Labs to comply with the above outlined FDA requirements.
Source: 3DS