CABAM: 3D Printing Research Center Established at UCF
UCF formalized its partnership with the student-led nonprofit Limbitless Solutions to create a hub of innovation that will blend engineering, art and medical science and become a worldwide resource for 3D printed biomedical solutions.
The Center for Applied Biomedical Additive Manufacturing – CABAM – will establish a world-class interdisciplinary research facility and a marketplace to provide standardized, cost-effective, innovative, creative and functional biomedical solutions. The center will extend the work and international recognition of Limbitless Solutions as it seeks to push the limits of biomedical engineering innovation.
The partnership will expand Limbitless’ global efforts to foster collaboration among world-renowned scientists, medical doctors and engineers in the field of additive manufacturing.
Limbitless Solutions was founded in July when UCF engineering doctoral student Albert Manero and his team created a 3D-printed robotic arm for then-six-year-old Alex Pring. Since then, the team has delivered three arms in the U.S. and has been flooded with requests from more than 40 countries, due to the team’s global media attention. They continue to build the arms in their spare time using UCF’s engineering Manufacturing Lab.
The UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science and the UCF College of Medicine will provide space, faculty mentors and expertise to CABAM. UCF’s Venture Accelerator and the Office of Technology Transfer will facilitate the process of taking new discoveries made at the center to commercial development.
The April 20 press conference announcing CABAM featured an appearance of the Blue Man Group, who earlier in April surprised 12-year-old Wyatt Falardeau with a specially made “Blue Man” inspired arm.
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Photo: UCF engineering student John Sparkman and 3D-printed arm recipients Alex Pring, 7, and Wyatt Falardeau, 12, enjoy a surprise visit from the Blue Man Group at the April 20 announcement of CABAM. Earlier in April, the Blue Man Group gave Wyatt a UCF-made “Blue Man” styled arm.