Apr. 20, 2015 | By Alec

While we’ve seen so many heartwarming examples of what 3D printing technology can do for the disabled, seeing disabled people actually use 3D printers for themselves is somewhat rarer. But that is exactly what two disabled brothers, the twins Chris and Nick Fryer, from Melbourne, Australia are doing. Not only have the pair become something of 3D printing experts themselves, they are now even starting a 3D printing makers’ space called MESH (short for Melbourne Eastern Suburbs Hackers) where other disabled people can learn about what 3D printers can do for them.

Unfortunately, the twins are about as disabled as it gets. The identical twins were both diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of eight. In fact, they both have a particularly crippling and lethal strain of that terrible disease, the Duchenne strain that quickly attacks muscle tissue and always results in premature death. In fact, Chris and Nick were told they would not live beyond the age of 21.

However, the twins are already 37 years old and are relying on technology to extend and enrich their lives as much as possible. While restricted to wheelchairs and being only able to move their mouths and fingertips In fact, technology plays a large part in sustaining their positive outlook on life as they genuinely feel that it has given back some of their life and dignity, as they explain to Australian media.

Both are in fact avid designers and tinkers, and are constantly designing and 3D printing all sorts of little components and parts to make their own lives easier. This is a fascination that goes back for years. ‘We've always been interested in technology, even when we were very young,’ Nick explained. ‘When I was little, my dad taught me how to make model aircraft out of balsawood and glue, and my disability took that away from me, but now technology has given that ability back. I can design things on the computer and print them out on my 3D printer and it's fantastic.’

Technology has, in fact, been a life-saver for both of them. When their disease reached critical stages around the age of 21 – when most of their muscles lost strength and even their lungs were barely useable – their mother Jenny convinced doctors to make an unusual ventilator-based construction to prevent sleep asphyxiation.  Nick recalls that doctors were slow to adopt the already tried and tested ventilator technology, but fortunately their doctor Michelle Caldecott designed a machine that saved both of their lives. Both brothers are convinced it’s the secret behind their relatively long lives.

A 3D printed pet the brothers designed.

But even now, the brothers are working on little technological innovations all the time, intended to improve their lives as much as possible In fact, the brothers operate their computers through small 3D printed finger devices that have been attached to their desk, to reduce strain on their weakened muscles as much as possible. Various home-made additions to their wheelchairs, to increase muscle support, have also been made at their own initiative. ‘I wanted to adjust how I was sitting in my wheelchair so I designed the little piece to go in the side support bolts,’ Nick says. ‘We measured it up, designed something, 3D printed it and screwed it in and it's great.’

A 3D printed modified mouse that takes very little muscle strength to operate.

And after visiting a local makers group, the brothers have even become convinced that they can use their 3D printing skills to help as many people as possible. They have therefore started their own hacker’s collective MESH, which they envision as a maker’s movement to ‘re-enable’ the disabled. ‘I think a lot (of people with disabilities) don't even know this exists, and they don't know what they can do,’ Nick explained. ‘What we want to do is to enable people with disabilities to design and create things for themselves. In the past it was virtually impossible for someone like me to actually make something physical, but now with computers, computer-aided design and 3D printers it's become relatively easy.’

Taking their own lives and experiences as an example, their brothers believe that can extend the average life expectancy of disabled people even further through 3D printing technology. ‘Eventually technology will eliminate disabilities, you can already see advances in exoskeletons and prosthetics and all sorts of areas where technology is helping disabled people to, in some cases, eliminate a disability entirely,’ Nick argues. ‘That's what I want to promote. With robotics and all the technology being developed, you can re-enable yourself.’

While still in its infancy, MESH invites makers of any (dis)ability in the area to join them and help develop open-source creations for disabled people everywhere. For more information about helping them and their great cause, go to their website here

 

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

 

Maybe you also like:


   





Leave a comment:

Your Name:

 


Subscribe us to

3ders.org Feeds 3ders.org twitter 3ders.org facebook   

About 3Ders.org

3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.

News Archive