robotic limb

Joel Gibbard a young graduate has created the world’s very first 3D printed hand for £600. This invention could change the world as it has the potential to reduce production costs by up to 99%. The robotic limb is better known as the prototype of the Dextrus hand and uses motors instead of muscles, and steel cables instead of tendons. The 3D printed plastic parts work as bones, and a rubber coating acts as skin. It is able to articulate each finger individually enabling it to hold objects of different sizes and shapes.

The hand is made from the same material as Lego, and the best part about it is, it can be used without a custom fitting. The most miraculous part of this invention is it can be printed off in around eight hours, using a 3D printer.

However, Mr Gibbard hopes to revolutionise the health industry with his printed prosthetic 3D invention. At the moment the NHS pays around £70,000 for a prosthetic hand. The robotic expert hoped that the £600 robotic limb will cut down the price dramatically for the NHS. He currently refuses to patent it, as he wants anyone to be able to use it.

Mr Gibbard told the Daily Mail, “The motivation for this was seeing really advanced prosthetics. They’re very expensive so I thought I would create one using my robotics experience and a 3D printer. I want to make it in a way that is cost effective but still profitable. At the moment they would sell for around £1,000 but the idea is to get this down to £600. Money is not my goal with this. I want to make it more accessible for amputees.”

Mr Gibbard continued, “It has a firm grip, but not as strong as a human hand. The hand can crush a paper cup, but not a metal can. The motivation for this was seeing really advanced prosthetics. They’re very expensive so I thought I would create one using my robotics experience and a 3D printer.”

It is only a matter of time before one sees the invention become a reality. At the moment it is all science fiction. Yet in a few years time, one could be seeing people with these type of hands.

Akashic Times is the UK’s only online, fully independent not-for-profit weekly newspaper that brings you real news from across the globe.

If you want to keep ahead of what is really going on in the world, subscribe to our newspaper via the subscribe button and join our Facebook & Twitter pages. Subscription is completely free ofcourse

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

(Spamcheck Enabled)