3D printing of prosthetic hands

[Fat Tone]

This is an amazing story. Via the IEEE robotics video roundup is a story of a guy who used a 3D printer to design himself a prosthetic after losing parts of his fingers. He has since gone on to build versions for children with ADS.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/diy/video-friday-robohand-entropica-ai-bad-breath-robot/?utm_source=roboticsnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=051413

When the child outgrows the 'robohand' they simply build bigger parts and and recycle the rest!

[Dr Mordrid]

The form used to make my leg prosthesis is 3D printed. The residual limb is laser scanned, then the form is 3D printed and used to shape a carbon fiber socket.

[Claymonkey]

I swear I posted to this days ago... seems it went poof. This tech excites me. I have friends that ask what the point of 3d printing is and I point to stuff like this.

[Dr Mordrid]

The next step is 4D printing; printed working mechanisms made up of multiple 3D printed materials, ranging from polymers and ceramics to metals, tissue and embedded electronics (often organic electronics) - all by the same device. Already in the labs. First example is a bionic ear cartilage with embedded circuitry. At first just an RF antenna etc. as a proof of concept, but more is coming.