Public Domain Prosthetic Hand

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Public Domain Prosthetic Hand

Posted by Soulskill on Friday February 1, 2013 @02:28AM from the you-might-find-this-handy dept.

New submitter Zeussy writes "While looking around Thingiverse for something to 3D-print, I found this awesome public domain prosthetic hand designed for a 5-year-old child called Liam, who was born without any fingers on his right hand. The design is based on parts either 3D-printed or bought from your local hardware store. It's body powered via cables and bungees; see it in action in this video. They are currently running a Fundly Fundraiser."

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This is fantastic by inquist · 2013-02-01 02:44 · Score: 5, Interesting

I think this also helps answer the other article posted recently, "Are there any real inventors left?" Yes there are.
1. Re:This is fantastic by sandytaru · 2013-02-01 03:00 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, and as I said in that article, 3D printing probably counts as a true invention.
  
  --
  Occasionally living proof of the Ballmer peak.
2. Re:This is fantastic by Forty+Two+Tenfold · 2013-02-01 03:06 · Score: 2
  
  This is wrong. Giving stuff to the public domain should be forbidden. This way of life is communist!
  
  --
  Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
3. Re:This is fantastic by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 03:29 · Score: 0
  
  Thinking of others should be prohibited.
  Every individual not putting him/herself first should be exterminated.
4. Re:This is fantastic by GameboyRMH · 2013-02-01 03:59 · Score: 1
  
  Interesting idea around that joke, how many crippling diseases would still be haunting humanity if their cures were made by modern pharma companies instead of generous "anti-capitalist" people like Jonas Salk? I imagine the diseases would still thrive in the 3rd world.
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
5. Re:This is fantastic by Haxagon · 2013-02-01 04:01 · Score: 1
  
  Additive manufacturing has been around for a long time, and automated subtractive manufacturing for longer. 3D printing is great, but that BBC story was just their misunderstanding of invention and creativity. They think it's Something That Has Never Been Done Before And Doesn't Include Other Inventions, when that includes very few things in the history of mankind. Everything is iterative. Even the first simple machine a human used was most likely created by some other organism years before.
  I propose that we adopt the controversial Cory Doctorow's definition of invention/creativity: something that isn't obvious. That way we don't have these mainstream news dodos bumbling around about "but what happened to invention? " every couple of months.
6. Re:This is fantastic by Forty+Two+Tenfold · 2013-02-01 06:07 · Score: 1
  
  Capitalism opposes progress (I am being serious).
  
  --
  Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
7. Re:This is fantastic by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 07:47 · Score: 0
  
  Um, freely giving isn't communist. Taking is communist.
8. Re:This is fantastic by Forty+Two+Tenfold · 2013-02-01 07:59 · Score: 1
  
  It's exactly opposite. It doesn't matter what you've been brainwashed to believe. Captalism doesn't hold water.
  
  --
  Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
Can you imagine? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 02:46 · Score: 2, Funny

You take your kid to the family doctor:
Doc: Nice to see you both again. So, uh, where did you get that prosthetic hand for little Tommy?
Dad: I downloaded some designs from the internet and built it myself.
Doc: *gape*
1. Re:Can you imagine? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 02:55 · Score: 0
  
  You take your kid to the family doctor:
  Doc: Nice to see you both again. So, uh, where did you get that prosthetic hand for little Tommy? Dad: I downloaded some designs from the internet and built it myself. Doc: *gape*
  Doc: Can you built a few more for me?
  
  Then 30 years from now a robot from the future will go back in time, infiltrate the doctor's home, and try to blow up the new hand.
  
  mod-anon
2. Re:Can you imagine? by WillAdams · 2013-02-01 04:55 · Score: 2
  
  Two sides to this:
  Ages ago, I remember reading in Readers Digest a story about a gentleman and his wife who adopted one of the Thalidomide babies and created a more manageable motorized device for the young man to control so as to have some mobility --- I've always wondered if any of those mechanisms were used in later devices.
  There are now devices for CNC milling dental crowns while one waits in a dentist's office:
  http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1196&p=9543&hilit=dentist#p9543
  
  --
  Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
3D fun by turkeydance · 2013-02-01 02:48 · Score: 5, Insightful

3D printing has the potential to be the "next thing". just like computers, the internet,etc. practical/fun/dangerous/all that. this example is heart-warming. now, if we could just intercept or delay DRM and other censorship possibilites.
"And" and "Or" have different meanings... by Internal+Modem · 2013-02-01 02:49 · Score: 0

"The design is based on parts either 3D-printed or bought from your local hardware store."

[sarcasm] I can't wait to read the article and find out if it's 3D printed parts or parts I have to buy. [/sarcasm]
1. Re:"And" and "Or" have different meanings... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 03:07 · Score: 0
  
  You're aware that "either/or" is a logical construct in which you can use EITHER a OR b, right?
  
  And that, in this case, it means that you have two separate options, both valid?
2. Re:"And" and "Or" have different meanings... by Internal+Modem · 2013-02-01 03:32 · Score: 1
  
  Yes. However, it appears that some parts are printed AND some parts are purchased.
3. Re:"And" and "Or" have different meanings... by darkshot117 · 2013-02-01 05:16 · Score: 1
  
  I got the impression that they were implying you could build it with your choice of printed parts OR alternatively purchased parts. I would imagine the printed parts would be plastic and less durable (but probably lighter) than metal parts bought at a hardware store.
Nice juxtaposition by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 02:50 · Score: 0

Couldn't help but note that on the main page this is right next to "Are there any real inventors left?"
Greatest moment by schneidafunk · 2013-02-01 02:53 · Score: 5, Interesting

The greatest moment is when Rich and I were working together with Liam in South Africa. The moment Liam realized that his wrist motion powered the device, he exclaimed "It copies me!!". -Ivan Owen & Richard Van As

source here

--
Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75. -Benjamin Franklin
Awesome by Agares · 2013-02-01 03:02 · Score: 1

This is pretty amazing. It's things like this is that make me excited about 3D printers. I wonder what other great stuff people will make with these.
A Public Domain Hand by Greyfox · 2013-02-01 03:09 · Score: 1

And all anyone can think to do with it is stick it on someone. Let the hand run free! Like Thing! Or that scene from the Evil Dead. THAT would be AWESOME!

--
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Are you sure his name is Liam? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 03:30 · Score: 0

Not Freddie, or Edward?!
How long until.. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 03:37 · Score: 0

I can replace all of my proprietary body parts with open source ones?
WOW! by Big+Hairy+Ian · 2013-02-01 03:56 · Score: 1

Absolutely brilliant!

--
Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.
3D printing of penis enlargers by SpaghettiPattern · 2013-02-01 05:41 · Score: 1

Hopefully 3D printing of penis enlargers will diminish SPAM.

--

I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
Legality? by Mike+Frett · 2013-02-01 05:45 · Score: 1

This is fantastic of course, but what do actual makers of Artificial hands have to say about this, they own Patents right?. Serious question, what would happen, would it be like the RIAA suing anyone seen with these?.
1. Re:Legality? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 11:56 · Score: 0
  
  These have existed for centuries...
2. Re:Legality? by sjames · 2013-02-12 07:15 · Score: 1
  
  Just another case of lawyers costing someone an arm and a leg.
the "next thing" by Anonymous Coward · 2013-02-01 09:45 · Score: 0

To be attacked and demonized by several markets, and the government.