Anyone can become disabled at any time. Disabilities do not discriminate and many people may become disabled at some point in their life. 3D printing is a new technology that has been brought to the forefront of the discussion when talking about disability because of its ease of access and its adaptability. With the rise of 3D printing technology people have been able to make their own assistive devices that are helpful in day to day life. 3D printing, while not perfect, is revolutionizing the way assistive devices are made and is improving the daily lives of disabled people.
3D printing is a technology that has been around for over 50 years now, though it was not always easy for the public to access. The first 3D printers released were very large and expensive meaning that they were only built in manufacturing plants and consumers had no access to the machines (History of 3D Printing: It’s Older Than You Think, n.d.). As the technology for 3D printing advanced though, it became more and more accessible to consumers. Today, consumers are able to buy their own printer and make their own 3D prints as there are a number of companies who offer to print custom files for consumers. Companies like GoEngineer allow 3D printing to be available to anyone by allowing people to go online, upload their file to be printed, and then GoEngineer will print and ship the finished print. These tools play a huge role in accessibility because it allows anyone to have access to the technology and allows for users to make custom prints that fit their needs without needing to buy their own printer setup.
Since 3D printing is more accessible now than ever before, people with disabilities have begun to make their own prints that can be used to accommodate them in their day to day lives. Accessibility tools are often not cheap and needs vary from person to person but 3D printing allows users to make custom devices or additives that can help with their specific needs, while not breaking the bank. For example, someone with arthritis might struggle to turn their key and open their door because of the small size. With 3D printing though, people have made additive pieces that can easily connect with almost any key and allow for more space to hold the key. This device is not only quick and easy to make
with a 3D printer but there are also many websites that sell the computer-aided design (CAD) file for a low price so users don’t even need to know 3D modeling. Additionally, this device likely is not sold in stores and without 3D printing it would be a lot harder to access. This is just one example of how people can use 3D printing to make accessibility tools. Other examples of 3D printing accessibility tools include making bag carriers, button pressers, bottle opening devices, alternative grip devices, and more.
Accessibility devices are not only being made for those with physical disabilities though. 3D printing technology has been used to make things such as braille keyboards and tactile maps as well. In fact, a group of visually impaired scientists came together to figure out how they could use 3D printing to make their jobs more accessible. Before 3D printing came to the scene, visually impaired researchers would rely heavily on screen readers and descriptions of photos/graphs. However, with the new technology available the team of researchers started experimenting with 3D printing photos and graphs. They would print the photos/graphs thin to save time and material and ended up discovering that they could use 3D printing to make lithophanes (Irving, 2022). These lithophanes are not a new technology but were new to 3D printing and gave the researchers a way to see and feel the images they printed. This technology can be life-changing for the visually impaired because it allows fast creation of graphs and images that otherwise might not be accessible.
Although there have been major strides in 3D printing and accessibility, it is still not a perfect process and does still have its flaws. Despite having come down in size and cost, getting a printer for oneself can still be pricey. Printers vary in price depending on brand and type of printer however the cheapest ones still cost a few hundred dollars (How Much Does a 3D Printer Cost?, n.d.). On top of the printer’s price, a person also would have to pay for filament and would need to model their own designs. These barriers make at home printing difficult for the masses. As previously mentioned though, some companies offer printing and even modeling services for users. These services, while not always the cheapest, are significantly cheaper than getting your own printer. Another flaw of 3D printing is that depending on the print and its usage, a print may need to take a lot of force/pressure against it which if not accounted for properly could lead to breakage and could be more expensive. With these flaws in mind though, designers can create products that are designed to withstand the pressures put up against it and can make items custom fit to a user’s needs.
Overall, 3D printing is not a fully refined process and is not always the cheapest however, the technology has allowed for major advancements in assistive devices. With the use of 3D printing, users can make their own assistive devices that fit their needs without spending too much. These products often are not mass produced which means users can get an assistive device that otherwise might not have been available. The growth of 3D printing also has opened up ways for users to use the technology without needing to buy their own printers, thus making 3D printing more accessible and affordable.
Works Cited
Help 3D print assistive technology devices to improve the lives of others! (n.d.). 3D Universe. https://shop3duniverse.com/blogs/digital-fabrication-in-education/help-3d-print-assistive-technology-devices-to-improve-the-lives-of-others
History of 3D printing: It’s older than you think. (n.d.). https://www.autodesk.com/design-make/articles/history-of-3d-printing
How much does a 3D printer cost? (n.d.). Formlabs. https://formlabs.com/blog/how-to-calculate-3d-printer-cost/?srsltid=AfmBOoqPgyWhkuE6emJZElDSCIHDbMmlRl129x2UijmxVlWfWwpUSNpm
Irving, K. (2022, August 17). How 3D printing could help blind researchers ‘see’ data. Science. https://www.science.org/content/article/how-3d-printing-could-help-blind-researchers-see-data
Makers making change. (n.d.). https://www.makersmakingchange.com/s/product/key-turner/01tJR00000068z6YAA
Online 3D Printing Service | Custom parts & Fast quotes. (n.d.). GoEngineer. https://www.goengineer.com/3d-printing-services?utm_term=high%20quality%203d%20printing%20service&utm_campaign=GS_NB_3D-Printing-Services_US&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=4777063496&hsa_cam=21077424870&hsa_grp=156527852341&hsa_ad=692925821418&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-295329481369&hsa_kw=high%20quality%203d%20printing%20service&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkZm_BhDrARIsAAEbX1FlLrrldBhVAcUbyNAv4c1orOnOltvtLbV_EyTMFfbkry_62gXvsacaAlmIEALw_wcB
Tom. (2025, March 13). How 3D printing is revolutionizing accessibility for blind people. Even Grounds. https://evengrounds.com/how-3d-printing-is-revolutionizing-accessibility-for-blind-people/#3D-Printed_Braille_Materials