HND Mechanical Engineering Students are working with Enabling
the Future, a global network of passionate volunteers that work
with organisations worldwide using 3D printing technology, to
create prosthetic limbs for young amputees in third world
countries.
The students, who are the first cohort of engineers to study in
the College's state-of-the-art STEM Centre, were provided with
specific instructions from Enabling the Future, to generate an
artificial hand to fit a child's arm.
The limb, made of PLAPolylactic acid, a biodegradable plastic
has cost £5 to manufacture, including the cost of materials and
power.
Gordon Crombie, Northumberland College's STEM Centre Manager
said: "This excellent project highlights all of our rapid
prototyping resources and the positive impact of new
technologies.
"As children grow they need larger prosthetics, which becomes
expensive due to technology limitations in developing countries,
however for us, it costs just £5 and a little time."
The World Health Organization estimates that there are around 30
million people who require prosthetic limbs, braces or other
mobility devices, yet less than 20% have them.
The College are now at the stage of submitting the printed
prototype for approval to Enabling the Future to ensure the limb
meets requirements. Once approved or any changes are made, this
limb is destined for a child in need in Africa.
Northumberland College HNC Engineering student, Richard
Furlonger, 21 from Blyth, said: "I'm so proud to be a part of this
project. It has improved our design and manufacturing skills. It is
also an opportunity to change lives for the better. Once our
prototype has approval we hope to build 35 limbs initially, with
each limb individual to each recipient depending on size, design
and capability."
Gordon added: "Our students have been a credit to the College
and fully embraced this learning experience. They are doing
something fantastic for under privileged children, which has been a
pleasure to be part of.
"Our aim is to be able to produce future prosthetics to help
more vulnerable young people across the world whilst broaden our
students life skills."
Globally, around 30 million people live with
limb-loss. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that
only 5% have access to prosthetic care. Compounding
this, there is a global shortage of trained
prosthetists. WHO estimates that an additional 40,000
prosthetists will be necessary to serve all those in need.
Northumberland College's £2.5m state-of-the-art STEM Centre at
its Ashington campus, opened in September 2017 and is equipped with
the latest advanced industry equipped including a glass 10,000
clean room, Digital 3D imagery equipment, nanotechnology,
microscopes, specialist chemicals and fab labs where budding
product designers and entrepreneurs can access the latest in
digital fabrication equipment for prototyping.
To find out more about Enabling the Future visit www.enablingthefuture.org/lend-a-hand
To find out more about courses in STEM at Northumberland College
visit www.northumberland.ac.uk/STEM
