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Factory workers get 3D printed thumbs to prevent injury

We've featured plenty of 3D printed prosthetics on this blog already, but usually they're for people who've lost limbs, or were born without them. BMW's prostthetic thumbs are a bit different, since they've been made for perfectly healthy factory workers - they're designed to help make workers' lives easier, and safer.

The "thumbs" are custom printed to fit the size and shape of each individual worker's thumb. Made of a semi-flexible thermoplastic and worn strapped to the hand, they act as support, making the workers' hands stronger and less prone to injury when they're doing repetitive physical tasks, like fitting plugs into the chassis of cars.

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BMW
factory
industry
prosthetics
3d printing

Printed human organs come another step closer

Scientists have been working on 3D printing human organs for transplant for a while now, but a recent breakthrough might've brought that reality another step closer.

Researchers at the University of Sydney, led by Dr Luiz Bertassoni, have been working to solve the issue of blood supply to the new organ tissue. And in the journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, they've published an article saying they might've cracked it.

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medicine
artificial organs

Will.i.am helps launch a Coca-Cola bottle printer

Hey, remember when Will.i.am signed up with 3D Systems to try to make 3D printing more accessible? Well, the first fruit of that partnership has just been announced.

The Ekocycle Cube printer is a new 3D printer from 3D Systems, developed in partnership with the singer and with Coca-Cola. As the name suggests, it uses recycled materials - specifically, recycled plastic from Coke bottles - as filament. Well, partially, anyway - around a quarter of every cartridge will be made from recycled bottles. It'll be able to print in red, black, white, or translucent colours, and will be able to make objects up to 6" cubed.

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3d printing
Will.i.am
3D Systems. 3D printing
recycled materials

UK police say: don't bother trying to 3D print guns

According to the BBC, the UK government has been investigating 3D printed guns, with a view to assessing how much of a risk they might be. And their conclusion is pretty reassuring: bullets don't go very far, but the guns themselves tend to shatter.

That means the greatest danger posed by a 3D

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guns
UK government

iMakr is opening a New York store - this week!

Last year, iMakr opened the first London shop completely dedicated to 3D printing. Now it's set to do it all over again - in New York!

The iMakr store in New York will be a lot like the London store: it'll sell 3D printers, 3D printing materials, and 3D printed goods. It'll also run workshops and employ clued-up staff who can answer customers' 3D printing questions, whether they're experts or first-time printers.

The Manhatten store is set to open on Thursday, and if you're a 3D printing enthusiastic in New York, there's more good news - they're hiring.

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iMakr
3D printing shops
3d printing

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