How to monitor 3D Print Jobs for prosthetic devices ?

How to Monitor 3D Print Jobs: Queue and File Management for Medical Orthotic and Prosthetic Devices

Advantages of 3D printing for medical devices: cost-efficiency, customization, and comfort

This article is not about why you should use 3D printing to create orthotics and prosthetics, but let’s quickly touch on the reasons.

One obvious benefit is cost-effectiveness, when compared to mass production and traditional manufacturing method. Two other benefits that really go hand in hand are customization, and comfort. 

Each piece can be tailor-made to fit one person. That’s incredible; with a world population of more than 8 billion, there’s an effective way to manufacture an item for just one. When you think of how uncomfortable a standard new pair of shoes can be, you can understand why each person who needs a prosthetic limb or even just orthotics, is going to need it customized.

Customization is a unique advantage of 3D printing. It may not be strictly related to fitment of orthotics and prosthetic devices, either. By 3D printing in a favorite color or pattern, a prosthetics designer can, for example, relieve anxiety for the 6-year-old girl who needs the device. 

So yes, 3D printing is a great option. Someone can start with a basic design, and make it bigger, smaller, or just plain different. It’s a process that allows for quick revisions, meaning patients can get a medical device that is far more comfortable than what used to be industry standard. 

But again, that’s not the point of this article.

The point is that with all of these iterations, it can be difficult to keep track of changes. And as you scale your 3D printing operation, you’ll need some tools to help you manage your 3D printers, users, and 3D print files.

3D Print Monitor: Tracking Changes and Iterations to 3D Print Files

There are many reasons why a 3D print design may need to be changed or updated. Obviously, a new patient is going to need a different size from the last one, at the very least. Even the socket for a prosthetic limb is going to be vastly different, so while building for one patient, you can expect to create multiple designs.

And even once you’re ‘done’, you likely will still have some changes. A key challenge in 3D printing medical devices is the quality and durability of the materials. They may not be as strong as traditionally manufactured ones, so they may need more maintenance and repair.

This is why 3DPrinterOS – long used for managing multiple 3D printers and users –is also loved for managing 3D print files. When you store your 3D print files on the cloud, you’ll have access to them anywhere.

And with 3DPrinterOS, each change is kept as its own file. You can create a system for naming them, perhaps including the date, the patient’s name, and which material or machine you’re using. Because it’s all stored within the platform, it’s far easier to track iterations.

Medical data and intellectual property are kept secure

Patient privacy is a big consideration in any medical field, and 3DPrinterOS is already the undefeated champion of keeping 3D printing intellectual property secure. That’s not just our ego talking, either. Keeping data on a USB is a prime security vulnerability. With 3DPrinterOS, everything is encrypted within the platform: this is 3D printing without USBs, without SD cards, without flash drives. 

This means patient data is secure. You have a complete line of sight into who is printing what, and on which machine. SD cards and USB sticks are too easy to get lost; patients deserve better.

It also means your 3D printers are protected from malware from SD or USB cards. Some of our university clients use 3DPrinterOS to run their extensive networks of 3D printers for this very reason: they do not want their 3D printers exposed to the vulnerability of SD cards.  

Best Software to Monitor 3D Printer: Managing Your 3D Print Queue as You Scale Operations

Once you get into 3D printing medical devices at scale, you’ll need a platform to manage your 3D print queue. This is where our clients have told us we’ve made a significant impact on their operations. When you’ve completed a 3D print design, 3D printing it should be as close as possible to the ease of standard paper printing. From in the 3DPrinterOS platform, the file you want to print has a ‘print’ button that opens a box where you can choose which 3D printer to use. It’s that simple, it’s that easy.

And adding new 3D printers to your 3DPrinterOS lineup is that easy, too. It takes about 5 minutes to add a new 3D printer. Follow the prompts in the platform and you’ll be up and running in no time. 

We’d be glad to give you a demo if you’d like to see it action!

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