Television shows and movies have always amazed people showing depicted scenes where the press of a button or words spoken on a computer produced ready made objects like weapons, cars, etc. With the advancement of the 3D printing technology it seems that such unusual happenings might indeed come true. This technology has helped manufacturers and other firms to create prototypes by inputting digital data that ultimately gets converted to a physical object. The 3D printing technology is based on an additive principle where layer upon layer is added until the object is complete. Different materials might be used like resin, polymers, metals and various other substances which depend upon the printer as well as the manufacturing industry involved. The advancements made in this field have been substantial and rapid that has opened new doors of opportunities.
Recently Stratasys made use of the 3D printing technology to help a girl with an artificial arm. Emma Lavelle, 4 year old girl was born with a critical disease Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) which leads to improper muscle growth and movement. However, with the tailor made exoskeleton for the first time in her life, the girl was able to eat on her own. The Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX) was first spotted by Emma’s mother at a family conference. Developed by Whitney Sample and Tariq Rahman, the WREX seemed too big for this little girl and they needed to come up with something innovative. Emma was provided with a custom body jacket that came along with lightweight 3D printed plastic appendages that assisted in voluntary movement of her arms. Reports state that there are presently fifteen more children in the hospital wearing the same kind of lightweight vests.
With the help of the additive manufacturing technology, highly skilled creators came up with the lightweight prosthetic for Emma. 3D printing has helped the manufacturers to customize the vest according to the requirements for Emma and helped her with a new life. The use of 3D printing technology has opened new doors for the development of pediatric prosthetics as per the famous design magazine, Core 77. The main benefit of this technology is that it helps to come up with personalized solutions to tackle even the toughest of challenges. The 3D printing technology is helping humans to break some of the greatest barriers in the field of healthcare and science.
Gone are the days when printers were only used for purpose of printing papers. The possibilities offered by 3D printing technology are immense and huge. Engineers from all over the globe are able convert their ideas to reality and help improve the lives of people. As newer possibilities are offered by this hi-tech technology its impact outside design realms and traditional manufacturing continue to grow. It is believed that any sort of problem involving three dimensional objects can be solved better and faster with the help of 3D printing technology. This technology is getting increased attention from manufacturing firms to the army because of its wide scope of possibilities.
Maonyesho ya televisheni na filamu daima wameshangazwa watu kuonyesha picha ambapo kubonyeza kifungo au maneno yaliyosemwa kwenye kompyuta zinazozalishwa tayari alifanya vitu kama silaha, magari, nk. Kwa sababu ya maendeleo ya teknolojia ya uchapishaji wa 3D, inaonekana kuwa hii inaweza kuwa kweli. Teknolojia hii imesaidia wazalishaji na makampuni mengine kuunda prototypes kwa kuingiza data digital ambayo hatimaye inageuzwa kuwa kitu kimwili. 3D uchapishaji ni msingi wa kanuni ya kuongeza ambapo safu juu ya safu ni aliongeza hadi kitu ni kamili. Vifaa tofauti vinaweza kutumika kama resin, polima, metali na vitu vingine mbalimbali ambavyo hutegemea printer na sekta ya utengenezaji inayohusika. Maendeleo yaliyofanywa katika uwanja huu yamekuwa makubwa na ya haraka ambayo yamefungua milango mipya ya fursa. Kampuni ya Stratasys imetoa msaada wa 3D kwa msichana aliyehitaji mkono wa bandia Emma Lavelle, msichana wa miaka minne alizaliwa na ugonjwa wa Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) ambao husababisha ukuaji usiofaa wa misuli na harakati. Hata hivyo, kwa mara ya kwanza maishani mwake, msichana huyo aliweza kula peke yake. Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX) iligunduliwa kwa mara ya kwanza na mama ya Emma katika mkutano wa familia. Wrex, iliyoundwa na Whitney Sample na Tariq Rahman, ilionekana kuwa kubwa sana kwa msichana huyu mdogo na walihitaji kuja na kitu cha ubunifu. Emma alipata koti la mwili lililotengenezwa kwa kawaida ambalo lilikuja pamoja na viungo vya plastiki vilivyochapishwa kwa 3D vilivyo na uzito mwepesi ambavyo vilisaidia katika harakati za hiari za mikono yake. Ripoti zinasema kwamba kwa sasa kuna watoto wengine kumi na watano katika hospitali wakiwa wamevaa aina ileile ya mavazi mepesi. Kwa msaada wa teknolojia ya utengenezaji wa nyongeza, waundaji wenye ujuzi sana walibuni proteti nyepesi kwa Emma. 3D kuchapisha pia imesaidia wazalishaji wa kuunda mkanda wa kipekee kwa mahitaji ya Emma na kumsaidia na maisha mapya. "Tengenezo la 3D la kuchapisha la ""Pediatric Prosthetics"" limetangaza kuwa lina uwezo wa kuunda vifaa vya kuchapisha kwa njia ya 3D, kulingana na jarida la Core77." Faida kuu ya teknolojia hii ni kwamba inasaidia kuja na ufumbuzi wa kibinafsi kushughulikia hata changamoto ngumu zaidi. Teknolojia ya uchapishaji wa 3D inasaidia watu kuvunja baadhi ya vizuizi vikubwa katika uwanja wa huduma za afya na sayansi. Siku ambazo mashine za kuchapisha zilitumiwa tu kuchapisha karatasi zimepita. Uwezekano wa kuchapisha 3D ni mkubwa sana. Wahandisi kutoka kote duniani wanaweza kubadilisha mawazo yao kuwa ukweli na kusaidia kuboresha maisha ya watu. Kama uwezekano mpya ni zinazotolewa na teknolojia hii ya juu-teknolojia athari yake nje ya nyanja ya kubuni na utengenezaji wa jadi kuendelea kukua. Kwa hivyo, kuna uwezekano mkubwa kwamba shida yoyote inayohusisha vitu vya pande tatu inaweza kutatuliwa kwa haraka na kwa urahisi zaidi kwa msaada wa teknolojia ya uchapishaji wa 3D. Teknolojia hii inapata umakini mkubwa kutoka kwa makampuni ya utengenezaji hadi jeshi kwa sababu ya wigo wake mkubwa wa uwezekano.