KEEN | Spring 2019

Collapsible, Large Scale 3D Printer

Health icon, disabled. A red heart with a cardiac rhythm running through it.

Medical professionals and relief workers around the world are faced with new and complex challenges regarding their patients’ health. Additive Manufacturing has the capability to assist with many of these challenges by allowing for more complex medical devices and tools to be created. However, machines capable of such tasks are often too large and cumbersome to be shipped or even stored overseas. The goal of this project was to create a folding, large scale 3d printer, capable of creating devices at any scale. Being able to reduce the size of the printer for both shipping and storage while not sacrificing print volume means these individuals can help an increasing number of patients with increasing complexity of ailments.