The manufacturing engineering technology program at Northern Illinois University (NIU) has joined forces with a young violinist to innovate an exciting development in the fields of music, 3D printing, and prosthetics: a 3D printed prosthetic hand made of lightweight nylon and plastic, which grants the wearer an increased range of motion while playing.
Teenager Sarah Valentiner, a one-handed violinist from the US, had been playing the instrument for two years but remained unsatisfied with the splint she used to hold the bow. Not allowing an adequate range of motion, Valentiner\u2019s splint was more of an impairment to the musician than an effective tool for her craft.<\/p>\n
Enter e-Nable, a world-wide network of volunteer designers who share resources for 3D printing prosthetic hands. Valentiner\u2019s parents eventually discovered the organization, which then put the family in touch with NIU\u2019s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
The university program, whose motto encourages \u201cbridging theory with practice,\u201d was particularly suitable for Valentiner\u2019s needs, as it encourages a more specialized, personal approach to problem solving. Valentiner was subsequently paired up with 21-year-old NIU student Oluseun Taiwo by mentor and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Federico Sciammarella.<\/p>\n
Taiwo and Valentiner started work this summer, spending three months engineering a better long-term plan for Valentiner\u2019s playing. Together, they designed an ultra-lightweight prosthetic hand, 3D printed from nylon and plastic materials\u2014a vast improvement from Valentiner\u2019s splint.
Along the way, Valentiner and Taiwo gained a number of insights into where prosthetics development is currently lacking and how 3D printing can help fill those gaps. \u201cOne of the many problems that needed solving was making it easy for a 14-year-old girl with one hand to set up her prosthetic,\u201d says Taiwo. \u201cSurprisingly not all prosthetics are designed with that in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other design obstacles that the young pair overcame included weight distribution and aesthetics. \u201cWe wanted a functional, simple yet great-looking design that could leave room for future development,\u201d explains Taiwo. \u201cWhen a two-handed person holds a bow they place different force points on it while playing to ensure comfort and accuracy. Obviously Sarah cannot do this, so I had to work hard with her on what areas needed more material to ensure she felt in control of the bow, and which needed less so she could hit different bow positions with speed and elegance.\u201d
Both the violinist and engineering student are pleased with the results.<\/p>\n
Through their experience working together, the pair also identified new possibilities for 3D printing as a social justice resource\u2014one that could provide support for the disability community and other marginalized groups. Taiwo now plans to start his own large-scale 3D printing company geared toward projects such as prosthetics and the housing crisis, both in the US and developing countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to gaining experience to further my work in 3D printing, I now also have a much better understanding of what working with clients could look like in the future,\u201d Taiwo says. \u201cI want to continue to work on projects that will have a positive impact on people’s lives and I feel a company like the one I am imagining would be the best way to do that in a responsible, respectful and successful manner.”<\/p>\n