Living a full and healthy life is the goal of people all over the world, but many of those who have lost limbs have found the restrictions are frustrating and depressing. Some of them have issues learning how to control their new limb, but others find they may never be able to afford the cost of purchasing a prosthetic limb. Their mobility and independence appear to be gone, and they wonder if they will ever be able to live a fully productive life in the future.
There are many reasons why prosthetics have been expensive in the past, and taking a look at the craftsmanship that went into them can explain must of the cost. The materials alone can be expensive because they must be strong enough to last a long time, but putting them together has previously taken a crafter with years of experience to make them correctly. New methods of computer printing have changed all that.
Colleges and universities are often the first to invent or find new uses for machinery, and new plastic printers that create plastic items in three dimensions have become popular for students experimenting. Many of them see these devices as a way to provide plastic prosthetics for people at a lower cost than traditional methods, and they are gaining in popularity across the globe. Students studying engineering design often program the machines to print what they need, and the resultant product is usually donated to someone in need.
Being able to live a full and productive life can be considered a good measure of progress for someone who has been disabled by the loss of a limb, and these new printing methods have given them a chance to get what they need at a cost they can afford. Being able to go back to work or live on their own can be a positive step in the right direction, and it does not have to cost an arm and a leg.
