A Brampton dad who uses 3D printers at his workplace used his expertise to print something pretty special:
a casting for her son.

Three-year-old Anmol Singh was just trying to be a superhero when he jumped off a chair. It ended with a trip to the hospital and a broken arm.

Hargurdeep Singh, the toddler’s father, said he was told there was a seven-day waiting period before Anmol could be seen at a fracture clinic.

“We said, ‘Okay he’s in a temporary sling, can we improve his experience? “said Singh, who is also vice president of advanced manufacturing at CAD MicroSolutions Inc.

The facility is full of 3D printers, which gave him the idea to create a lightweight, waterproof, and personalized 3D molding for his son. Singh has drawn on his professional network across the world and documented the process for family and friends on social media.

The end result was a lightweight 3D printed cast, just for her son.

“My wife had a very good idea; she said, ‘Why don’t we ask the family to send her personalized stickers and messages, kind of like what you do with a Sharpie?

Anmol was comfortable and satisfied with the end product, as was Dr Christopher Lu, orthopedic surgeon at Georgetown Hospital.

“I was impressed with the model and the feel,” Lu said. “Ultimately I think that’s the future of the cast.” But Lu said there are still a few hurdles to overcome with the technology, including time.

“I think it took several hours to print out the cast, and usually to put in a cast, it takes about five minutes, so that’s what they’re going to be competing against.”

But Singh seems ready for the challenge; especially since he watches his son recover in comfort.

“He loves wearing this thing. He always shows his stickers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Anmol is expected to recover in a few weeks, but will avoid jumping chairs for the foreseeable future.