Alex Z's RoboHand!

grandpaul

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My son Alex was born with ABS (Amniotic Banding Syndrome), resulting in a shortened left forearm & palm with only one finger/thumb (more thumb-like in operation, but in the relative position of an index finger).
Alex Z's RoboHand!


We have inquired over the years into several options including prosthetics, and were always advised to wait until he was at least 4 or 5 years old.

Recently, my wonderful wyfe, Sally, saw a report on TV about simple-to-make robotic hands, and she put me on the research trail where I found the e-Nable organization with it's totally open-source software and hand designs (relatively inexpensive hands to end-users). The big drawback is a 6-month waiting list.
Alex Z's RoboHand!


So, I did a bit more research and snatched an almost-new 3D printer of my own on e-bay.
Alex Z's RoboHand!


It didn't take too much to get the printer humming, but it took 29 hours to complete the print job! I sat next to that printer for almost 18 of those hours, monitoring the progress, taking pictures, and attempting to correct for unanticipated errors due to the sensitivity of the printer to it's immediate environment.
Alex Z's RoboHand!


In the course of the printing, some flaws in the project became evident which were caused by incorrect preparation and incorrect software settings due to the unknown specifications of the print media that was supplied with the printer.
Alex Z's RoboHand!

Alex Z's RoboHand!


Anyway, I easily corrected the errors with a little bit of work and some 2-part epoxy glue and putty.
Alex Z's RoboHand!


End result: Alex has his first RoboHand! It's a "Raptor" design (very basic).
Alex Z's RoboHand!


A couple of drawbacks besides the print flaws: It is too small for his chubby arm and palm, the wrist joint won't fit "flat" in the joint space, so the range of motion with the wrist rotated in place requires excessive force to produce a very weak grasp (I will scale up the print size on the reprint). Also, I selected the heavier elastic cord from the two sections that were included in the hardware kit, that resulted in even more effort to clench the grip (I'll use the lighter elastic cord on the re-print).

Alex about to hand his Mom a flower he made-
Alex Z's RoboHand!


So, Blue & Red spools of media are on order, a printing area enclosure being planned (shouldn't take more than a few hours to set up), and the 2nd iteration will be MUCH better!

And now, back to the shop to pay for the printer...
 
That's wonderful! Maybe you could end up setting up a home business to produce other 3-D printed mechanisms for all sorts of purposes?
 
Danno said:
That's wonderful! Maybe you could end up setting up a home business to produce other 3-D printed mechanisms for all sorts of purposes?

I have more than enough to do from day-to-day; however, we will be an area resource for people that need hands but are without 3D printers in south Texas.
 
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