[SCIENCE!] 3D Printed Exoskeleton Helps Toddler Overcome Muscular Disorder

Shyria Dracnoir · 08-04-2012, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iO9

Meet Emma. She's two years old and suffers from arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a rare disorder that makes moving her arms extremely difficult. But with the aid of Dr. Tariq Rahman, Whitney Sample, and her custom-fit, 3D-printed Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton, Emma now has the strength to lift her arms and play like any toddler.

Figured this was as good a chance as any to balance out the negativity in this subforum. I'm happy to see this girl get the chance to experience a world that her disability would have blocked off to her, and I'm hoping as the technology spreads more kids get that same opportunity.

Gregness · 08-04-2012, 12:40 PM

My school's actually installing a 3-d printer for general student use.

Of course, as a computer science student I'm not sure when I'll have an excuse to use it...

Melfice · 08-04-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregness

My school's actually installing a 3-d printer for general student use.

Of course, as a computer science student I'm not sure when I'll have an excuse to use it...

... break your mouse.
"SORRY BOSS, NEED TO USE THE 3D PRINTER TO PRINT A NEW MOUSE"

And then "accidentally" print... I don't know. Whatever the hell you like, I guess.

rpgdemon · 08-04-2012, 01:24 PM

Print another printer.

(There is an open source 3D printer that can do this.)

Locke cole · 08-04-2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpgdemon

Print another printer.

(There is an open source 3D printer that can do this.)

How does it do this? how does it fit another copy of itself into its own "tray"?

Sifright · 08-04-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke cole

How does it do this? how does it fit another copy of itself into its own "tray"?

by printing them in parts that can be assembled ?

Aerozord · 08-04-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sifright

by printing them in parts that can be assembled ?

or printing progressively smaller printers. Which kind of makes me want to make a 3D Printer matryoshka

rpgdemon · 08-04-2012, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sifright

by printing them in parts that can be assembled ?

This is how it is done. It prints out it's component parts, and you plunk them together.

If you are interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_Project

Aldurin · 08-05-2012, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpgdemon

This is how it is done. It prints out it's component parts, and you plunk them together.

If you are interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_Project

So the machines will kill us somehow . .

Aerozord · 08-04-2012, 02:15 PM

Oh the early stages of nano-fabrication technology. Yes I know this isn't but personally I feel the method 3D printers use (building objects a layer at a time) is likely what nano-fabrication will use just on a smaller more precise scale. I mean if we can get this concept to produce say, food, we just kicked the scarcity market in the balls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shyria Dracnoir

Figured this was as good a chance as any to balance out the negativity in this subforum.

Do not underestimate the internet. Sure someone will find a reason to bring some hot button issue in here.

08-04-2012, 12:40 PM	#2
Gregness Never give up. Never give in. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,034	My school's actually installing a 3-d printer for general student use. Of course, as a computer science student I'm not sure when I'll have an excuse to use it... __________________ A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - Robert Heinlein

08-04-2012, 01:24 PM	#4
rpgdemon Not a Taco Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,313	Print another printer. (There is an open source 3D printer that can do this.) __________________ I did a lot of posting on here as a teenager, and I was pretty awful. Even after I learned, grew up, and came to be on the right side of a lot of important issues, I was still angry, abrasive, and generally increased the amount of hate in the world, in pretty unacceptable ways. On the off chance that someone is taking a trip down memory lane looking through those old threads, I wanted to devote my signature to say directly to you, I'm sorry. Thank you for letting me be better, NPF.