How 3D printing can be useful in the medical field, others – Dr. Ndubuisi Ekwueme

In this episode of Nairametrics Organization Half Hour, we talk with Dr. Ndubuisi Ekwueme, the CEO and founder of Dubz 3D, a 3D business in Nigeria associated in 3D printing.

He is also a accredited clinical medical doctor who realized following attaining his license that he was additional in really like with entrepreneurship than becoming a health-related health care provider.

His initial small business enterprise in Nigeria was creating an application for physicians to entry above 3,000 queries and solutions for medical practitioners to study for their exams alternatively of the monotonous system of attending physical tutorials as they were employed to.

What was the inspiration for Dubz 3D?

The founder, fresh new out of health-related faculty overseas, arrived to Nigeria to get his clinical license. Right after having his license, he practiced medicine for one particular calendar year but later understood that drugs was not his spot of desire. Quickly immediately after, he found 3D printing and applied his school costs for his Masters’s plan to purchase his 1st 3D equipment and all its elements.

He explained 3D printing in his own words: “It’s modern the technological know-how is the potential, and it is the future way for the planet to go what it does is that it permits anybody and every person to be a company all you want is a 3D printer, and you can make rather significantly just about anything you want”.

On how he acquired his teaching to use the 3D machine, he stated that he taught himself how to use the printer making use of self-assist video clips on YouTube.

How can others get into the 3D printing small business?

Talking on how other interested men and women can get into 3D printing, he stated that 3D printers are on sale in the price range of $300 to $10,000, and that interested men and women can start off little by acquiring cost-effective ones.

Who are the existing clients of Dubz 3D?

The current buyers are majorly from Instagram as the company began its marketing on the platform. In accordance to the founder, the monthly bill of the merchandise staying manufactured by Dubz 3D are individualized goods custom-created to fit the specific style of the consumer. These consist of motels and resorts that want individualized merchandise to be utilized in rendering their providers. The business builds personalized important holders for them. They also make items bearing the title or logo of their prospects, like essential chains and pet tags.

Mr. Ekwueme, nevertheless, states that the company is escalating, and with far more recognition, he would be equipped to print just about anything at all for clients as 3D printing is additional than just personalized goods.

The average price tag of his work is dependent on what is becoming printed and how much elements would be exhausted in printing it. Vital holders, for case in point, could print for N3,500 for each one particular and could go as small as 70% if there is a massive buy quantity.

The use of 3D printers in drugs

Remaining a medical physician, he talked about how 3D printing can be employed in the healthcare subject, stating that numerous sorts of 3D printers are used for many applications. He had made use of an FD Fused Depositing modelling printer, but the printer does not have the capacity to print organs or physique parts.

3D printers, on the other hand, can aid in earning casts for clients who undergo from fractures, making the cast individualized and modern.

What are the problems?

The key obstacle 3D printing faces in Nigeria is electrical energy. Ekwueme mentioned that some goods to be printed take as significantly as 10 several hours to print, and if electric power is out for as very little as 30 seconds, the printing would have to be deserted and resumed from the beginning.

So significantly, he has been in a position to sustain the company through the use of battery storage devices like inverters and renewable strength like solar electricity. He also spoke of the major challenge of the unavailability of the parts of the 3D printers. Each solitary piece of materials essential to run the printers effectively is imported and normally takes as a great deal as 3 months to get to him. This can lead to the company to shut down even though awaiting the arrival of people goods.

What is the resolution?

In his viewpoint, the very first alternative for 3D printers in the continent is to seem into building its possess 3D printers in get to lower expense and unavailability.

On the unavailability of elements, he also stated that a person of the big merchandise needed for his perform is made use of plastic which has to be melted and transformed to material that would be made use of for 3D printing. The only setback is that there is no output facility that can convert the utilised plastic to a material that can be 3D printed. In this way, 3D printing also assists recycling.

What is Dubz 3D’s aggressive gain? 

Mr. Ekwueme mentioned that with 3D printing, it is easier to create customized objects in a certain variety, not just manufacturer them. He also states that an alternative way to do that would be to have it finished in China, but not only is it additional expensive due to transport fees, but it is also a lot more wearisome. This is due to the fact to start with, a mould has to be produced prior to a design and style is designed, and if it is not to the taste of the customer, another mould has to be manufactured, and this can go on till the shopper gives in to one particular of the layouts or will get what he likes.

Meanwhile, with 3D printing, the manufacturing is completed in Nigeria in just proximity, and in an hour, distinct designs are produced pursuing the taste of the consumer. The availability, relieve, convenience, and speed is what can make Dubz 3D a much better alternative.

What are the plans for the long run? 

The business is currently operating on devices and application that can assist them to connect their laptop computer directly to the printer by means of wifi.

If performed thoroughly, they can join to as numerous 3D printers and print in bulk in what ever sort that is preferred.

This automation is essential for the company’s expansion mainly because, with it, so much manpower is not required as all that would be needed is a designer and a client representative.

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