FEATURE
3D Wizardry
Rapid Prototyping Services Gives Businesses Secret Superpowers BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM
W
hen the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion set off on the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy, they didn’t know exactly how the wizard would grant their wishes — they just had faith that the man behind the curtain would make it happen. When clients come to the door of Ken Brace’s 2,500-square-foot studio, they must feel that same excitement and hope — only the wizard behind the curtain here doesn’t keep his methods a secret, and he always delivers.
The truth is, 3D printing might be capable of more than what even the great and powerful Oz could dream up. From printing with biomaterials in the medical field, to revolutionizing manufacturing by making processes more affordable, to printing structures in space that couldn’t survive the stress of a launch, those behind the scenes in the 3D printing industry are turning visions into realities every day. In Central Florida, as the owner of Rapid Prototyping Services, Brace is granting those wishes out of his Satellite Beach-based studio, where, with just
22 NOVEMBER 2021 | i4Biz.com
one employee staffing $1 million worth of equipment, the machines on the floor run each day, sometimes 24/7, to propel industries and business in our own backyards and beyond.
Medical While the medical industry is still exploring and discovering the possibilities of 3D printing, those at the forefront have already made advancements so incredible they seem to come straight from the pages of a science fiction book. Bioprinting, for instance, allows the use of biomaterials like living cells to print everything from living tissue to blood vessels and even whole organs. In September, it was reported that scientists from Saga University and Kyoto University in Japan were able to 3D print cartilage using stem cells, according to 3DPrintingIndustry.com. Recently, researchers at the Complex Materials Group at ETH Zurich developed a tool to print custom heart valves using silicon, making a usually expensive and laborintensive process possibly more efficient and affordable. Brace is bringing those advancements to Central Florida, working with everyone
“One of the groups I’m working with is designing a robotic hand, and working on programming it to open and close.” — Ken Brace
from doctors and surgeons to nonprofits. He has previously worked with Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit based out of the University of Central Florida (UCF) that creates bionic limbs for children, and Brace has donated his older machines for use in its projects. He also works with doctors on tools used during their surgeries and procedures. “In one case, I worked with a surgeon who was working on a nasal cavity and wanted to better understand it,” Brace said. “I used the CT scan they had taken of the patient to then create the model of the nasal cavity, and printed that out and sterilized it. He was able to keep that on the table during surgery to help guide him. In cases like that, it’s so rewarding because I’m not just making a part, I’m making a part that helps someone in such an incredible way.”
