New 3D printed gloves put to test at Commonwealth Games
Friday, 6 April 2018
Specialised 3D printing technology at the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ has offered a 'helping hand' to South Australian paratriathlete Scott Crowley for his race at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games this Saturday.
Until now, Mr Crowley has often relied on custom home-made wheelchair 'racing gloves', which he has made on the kitchen stove by melting plastic and laying it over his hands.
The gloves are used to protect Mr Crowley's hands during the push action while racing (known as 'punching' the wheels), so he can propel the tyres of his wheelchair for maximum speed.
His home-made gloves have lacked consistency in size and weight, which he's had to adjust to during racing. They were also tough to travel with – he once left a pair in the back of his car, and on one hot day they melted back to blobs of plastic.
Mr Crowley – who is also a student support staff member at the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ's Faculty of the Professions – has now been provided with a new set of wheelchair racing gloves thanks to the 3D printing facilities at the University's ThincLab ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ.
ThincLab 3D Studio Manager Morgan Hunter worked with Mr Crowley on the project, initially modelling the shape in clay. The process involved a 3D scan of Mr