Cancer patient gets a new jaw

ericisagenius · August 16, 2016, 07:07:01 PM

It's not often that I come across anything positive (Gosh I DESPISE my Facebook Newsfeed) but this was beautiful. A man who lost his jaw (Yup that's jaw) due to cancer, got it replaced by something called '3d printing'. This company probably has dedicated employees who care about coming on time. I hope they can make some awesome 3d printed music instruments too. I'll be happy with just some simple black drumsticks for my drum set.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/3d-printing-new-jaw-cancer-1.3663883

So happy to see how advanced medical marketing and science is getting.

I hope this technology is available to all patients.

MountainDon · August 16, 2016, 08:40:57 PM

Wow! That is wonderful! I am very happy for him.

August 16, 2016, 09:04:15 PM

That made me think of you Don. That is good to see.
I built for a doctor 7 or 8 years ago. He had been to a conference where a speaker was explaining experiments in printing organs. He came back quite impressed with their progress at that point.

3d printing is cool. I was helping some folks with a project at the school, we were in the shop, right down the hall is the robotics shop. The shop had just received a computerized 3 axis routing table, the robotics lab had gotten a couple of 3d printers and a computerized laser cutting machine. Basically if you can draw or scan a part they can make it out of plastic and several other materials. With the 3d printers people are also making a pattern and using it to cast metal parts, you can even use it in a lost wax type of casting.

ChugiakTinkerer · August 16, 2016, 09:14:02 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing

The RepRap project developed an open source platform making it possible for a DIY tinkerer to put one together for a few hundred dollars. I've been tempted, but haven't gotten that far down the road yet.

ericisagenius · August 17, 2016, 02:29:13 PM

@ChugiakTinkerer Good to know and thanks for the share! Yeah maybe in the future, if I can get my hands on one of these machines, I love to learn more and hopefully make my own synthesizer or something. Now that I think about it, I do know a guy who sells courses on prototyping. I'll get in touch with him and see where this journey takes me. Will keep you guys posted. Cheers!

August 17, 2016, 02:36:43 PM

My buddy makes the 3d sketch and sends it into a place that then makes the parts for him using a 3d printer... he says its useful for things you can't find and you don't have the initial cost of a machine (the place probably has a professional grade machine as well). I know he restores a lot of old games (both pinball and arcade type) and sometimes needs specialty parts.

Don_P · August 17, 2016, 10:01:03 PM

I noticed in the wiki article that an antimicrobial plastic is being developed for medical using quaternary ammonium. That is the Q in ACQ lumber and is also a disinfectant used in food service.

For the home printers it would be neat if you could sort plastic at home and recycle it there into the printer's plastic supply. Upcycling the pop bottle into a new door handle for the car.

ChugiakTinkerer · August 19, 2016, 01:42:49 AM

Quote from: Don_P on August 17, 2016, 10:01:03 PM
...

For the home printers it would be neat if you could sort plastic at home and recycle it there into the printer's plastic supply. Upcycling the pop bottle into a new door handle for the car.

Doesn't seem too far off...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwUPX5Sqi1Y

Don_P · August 19, 2016, 04:22:20 AM

Cool, he is making printer filament from recycled plastic as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j85TPjYRezI