Now You Can 3-D-Print Prosthetic Hands

Thanks to the work of a Washington puppeteer and a South African carpenter, all it takes is a 3-D printer and about $150 to make a functioning hand. After losing two of his fingers to his table saw in Johannesburg, Richard Van As searched for a way to create prosthetic fingers that he could afford. He reached out to special-effects artist and puppeteer Ivan Owen after discovering a YouTube video Owen posted of one of his puppets—a large hand with bending metal digits. The pair embarked on a cross-continental collaboration that ultimately led them to create Robohands: prosthetic, 3-D-printed hands that they’ve already provided to over 100 children, free of charge.