A Manufacturing Revolution

Bespoke Innovations plans to sell designer body parts. The company is using advances in 3D printing to create prosthetic limb casings wrapped in embroidered leather, shimmering metal or whatever else someone might want. Scott Summit, a co-founder of Bespoke, and his partner, an orthopedic surgeon, are set to open a studio where they will sell the limb coverings and experiment with printing entire customized limbs that could cost a tenth of comparable artificial limbs made using traditional methods. "I wanted to create a leg that had a level of humanity," Mr. Summit said. "It's unfortunate that people have had a product that's such a major part of their lives that was so underdesigned."

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The technology has been radically transformed from its origins as a tool used by manufacturers and designers to build prototypes. And 3D Systems has remained a leader and shaper of this market, providing the broadest line of 3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing systems and parts solutions available. The custom prosthesis shown was printed using 3D Systems Selective Laser Sintering, SLS® technology.

It is manufacturing with a mouse click instead of hammers, nails and, well, workers. Advocates of the technology say that by doing away with manual labor, 3D printing could revamp the economics of manufacturing and revive American industry as creativity and ingenuity replace labor costs as the main concern around a variety of goods. "There is nothing to be gained by going overseas except for higher shipping charges," Mr. Summit said.

Depending on the type of job at hand, a typical 3D printer can cost from $10,000 to more than $100,000. 3D Systems offers the broadest portfolio of 3D Printers and Production Systems extending into six figures when requirements include the rapid manufacturing of end use parts, rapid tooling, direct metal or the level of accuracy and durability only possible with SLA® and SLS® technologies. Today anyone may also source a single part or a complex assembly with complete design to manufacturing services through 3Dproparts™, a global network of parts solutions. Bespoke Innovations uses this service regularly.