Jose Delgado JR, a 53 year old who was born without most of his left hand, visits e-NABLE member Jeremy Simon to discuss how his current $42,000 myoelectric prosthetic compares to the $50 3D printed “Cyborg Beast” hand that Jeremy created for him.
You can read Jeremy’s blog post HERE.
Please click the image above to be directed to the Youtube video of Jose describing the differences and comparisons between the two.
As this video has gotten shared over the past 24 hours the question of how the $50 price tag for the 3D printed hands has come up.
What does it mean when people say these hands cost $50?
It is important to note the difference between the cost of retail devices and the cost to produce one of the open-source 3D printed hands.
1. Printed plastic and hardware for many of the hands made by the e-NABLE group comes to less than $50 in materials.
2. The design, research, development and prototyping time for these designs that normally would be included in the cost of such a device – has been donated by many individuals in the e-NABLE community who do not ask for compensation for their input or time spent helping problem solve or design these files. This is partially due to the way in which the development process is distributed. With many people volunteering their time, the development workload is spread across a large number of people. This is very similar to the way in which software systems like Linux and Apache Web Sever have been developed… but instead the concept is being applied to physical devices.
3. If you do not have access to a 3D printer – we now have a community of makers, 3D print companies, Maker Faire organizers, schools and libraries around the World who are willing to print the $5-15 sets of plastic parts needed to create these devices for people. (These devices can be printed on consumer-level printers that cost between $400-$3000+)
5. In the realm of more detailed research, a team at Creighton University in Nebraska is in the process of conducting an approved research study on the use and utility of one of the 3D printed partial hand designs. The Creighton team members are also members of e-NABLE, so here again the open-source community is benefiting from the contributions of highly skilled individuals who are contributing their time to move the project forward.
The reason why this is so incredible and why it is possible for such a low out of pocket cost to for a family using one of these devices to exist is that an entirely different model is being used for production and distribution of these systems. Instead of a business and retail model being used, this is instead being accomplished through a communal model of shared time and resources relying upon the generosity of people who are willing to contribute their talents and free time to creating something that can be beneficial to others – including the parents and end users of the devices.
“If someday they say of me that in my work I have contributed something to the welfare and happiness of my fellow man, I shall be satisfied.” – George Westinghouse
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please tell me how to begin to pursue this. my partner lost his hand (almost to his mid forearm) 3 years ago and was fitted with a myoelectronic hand, then a body-powered one, both of which impressed us with their uselessness and clunkiness, to the tune of more than $100,000, all billed to medicaid. he use each for a total of perhaps an hour. I cannot believe what i’m reading here We had almost given up hope, when I read this article a few days ago. How can we pursue this? thank you so much for this humane, incredible effort.
Hello Claire! Thank you for your comment and support of what we are doing!
At this time we are still working on a design for folks who do not have a wrist – but we have a few folks that are developing designs and they would be happy to chat with you about it!
If you can go join the google+ group ( https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/102497715636887179986?cfem=1 ) and also email the matcher team at enablematcher@gmail.com – they can help you find someone that may be able to help you. 🙂
this is just incredible. From: E-nabling The FutureSent: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 11:31 PMTo: kim.vandyke@gmail.comReply To: E-nabling The FutureSubject: [New comment] COMPARING: $42,000 MYOELECTRIC VS. $50 3D PRINTED HANDS
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Warm Fuzzy Revolutionist commented: “Hello Claire! Thank you for your comment and support of what we are doing!
At this time we are still working on a design for folks who do not have a wrist – but we have a few folks that are developing designs and they would be happy to chat with you abo”
This is just incredible. Can a technically and mathematically challenged person do it (in a timely way)?
Claire – yes!
The designs are free to download and we have all sorts of makers who are willing to help tweak a design for each individual user and also print out parts for those who would like them.
There are quite a few 3d printers that are very user friendly and with the files already created – you just have to plug it into your computer and tell it to print your personal file and in 6-8 hours you have the parts to put together your own hand!
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We have lots of Iraqis army who they fighting Isis they lost their hand and some of them last the whol arm I’m wondering how can you help us give them a new hand and arm .thanks
Hi Sara, are you in this area yourself? Do you have a 3D printer? Please email me at jen.owen@enablingthefuture.org 🙂