• At Group Created at Thingiverse

    Neil means • 06/08/2016 at 19:42 • 0 comments

    I created a group at Thingiverse to post files.

    http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/at

  • Super Fat Pen

    Neil means • 04/01/2016 at 06:33 • 0 comments

    Many people who have aphasia cannot grip a tiny pencil. A common adaptation to a pen, pencil, or artist's paintbrush is to fatten it up to make it easier to grip. This 40mm x 150mm cylinder has a 9mm hole in the middle to hold a standard "Bic" pen. It has a 1/4"-20 hole for a set screw that can be used to secure the pen at the correct depth in the tube. There is a 45 degree angle on the cylinder to allow the patient to steady the holder it against the table if they have tremors.

  • First Print

    Neil means • 03/28/2016 at 08:20 • 0 comments

    Some stroke patients can hold onto a ball, but not a regular sized pen. So the solution is to put a ball onto a pen. The large surface area of the ball allows for weak fingers to hold onto the pen. I used tinkercad to create a 50mm sphere with a 9mm pen hole that is offset from the sphere center. There are 2 set screw holes at 3mm each to secure the pen.

    Printing on a modified XYZ DaVinci 3D printer...

    Print is almost complete.

    Tap for set screws to secure pen.

    Ball with pen

  • Inspiration

    Neil means • 03/15/2016 at 01:33 • 0 comments

    I owe this inspiration to someone who suffers from stroke related aphasia. He is a genus trapped inside a body that has some short circuits, and he helps people he meets at the stroke rehab clinic by hand crafting writing pens that conform to their individual disability. Each person has unique needs for the size and placement of things to hold onto when using pens. Some need a round bulbous ball around their pen. Some people need a flat paddle attached. Some require a short stubby pen they can jam into their palm and grip with their fingers. Most people require at least a much larger diameter pen to hold onto. Some needs loops to insert their fingers through to provide additional support. From him, I have learned that everyone's stroke damage and physical physique is unique. He says that store purchased writing aids do not conform well because things need to be individualized to fit in an individual's hand correctly.