Any hub can print it, but there is so much more to it.
The hand must be modified for the type of disability, and then modeled in the right size for the recipient.
There are also a lot of parts that need added that are not 3d printed, such as the elastic that holds it together, and the straps, etc.
A local source is definitely needed.
Hi Perry,
Thank you for your answer.
A just get a feedback from another guy saying that the model Raptor is not adapted for my nephew because of the nature of his hand.
But the model Phoenix is more adapted. So, I need someone having already handled those kind of model. It seems to be hard to find it in France/Paris where am living.
Regards,
Zoubir
Enza3D
12
Look specifically for universities that offer biomedical engineering as a masters degree. These will have professors involved in research with prosthetics, or at least research that has a medical basis. They tend to be a tight knit group, so if one can’t help you, they may know someone else who can.
I do not have an exhaustive list of French universities that offer this, but I do know of a few. I’d say start with École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne, École Centrale de Lille, and ParisTech at Paris Institute of Technology. I would very strongly put emphasis on finding someone local, and someone who knows what they’re doing. Anyone can print a model, that’s the easy part. Designing the model to accommodate your nephew’s needs, and then fitting it to him are not easily done.
Hi Enza,
Thank you so much.
I will digg on that univerties solution.
Best regards,
Zoubir
Enza3D
14
No problem, and best of luck!
Best of luck with your goal and sorry I can’t help.
It’s a beautiful thing you’re doing!
kr0sh1
16
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned the e-Nable project yet, but that’s where I’d go for designs, should be several makers in the area on their list who can replicate one for you.
kr0sh1
17
Ah that actually is enablingthefuture! Need a chapter down here in Plymouth, lots of servicemen and women who’ve lost limbs. Anyone keen to form a chapter?
Hi, Thank you for answering. I have aleady asked them and sent them the pictures and built the form. Am waiting, there is too many people in the queue… Regards, Zoubir
kr0sh1
19
So what’s the ‘form’ then, an insert inside the prosthetic? Was it ‘Team Unlimbited’ you contacted, because it might be that they just need someone to sort out the CAD design side of things, I’d be happy to facilitate.
Hi,
As I did not get any news from you, am wondering whether you forgot me 
Thanks
Zoubir
Hi,
Thank you again for answering.
In the Enable form, they ask to push some personal information and 3 pictures about the hand. So, this is why they decided that the model will be more “Phoenix” instead of “Raptor”. which make the task more complicated. My understanding :
My nephew hand is missing enough inflection and this is why the hand design must include the forearm. So, the design must more go for a “Phoenix/Unlimbited” than a “Raptor”.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Regards,
Zoubir
Hi Zoubir,
we are using the models of “enabling the future”. The necessary steps are to chose the right model (wrist oder elbow powered) and to get the right measurements for the size of the model. The adjustment will be done by scaling the model of enabling. If you provide us further informations we could check the possibilities.
Best regards,
Robert
Hi Robert,
Thanks a lot for answering.
Please let me know what you need to build the right adjustement.
You can find enclosed 3 pictures asked by Enable. You can see the measurements. And please don’t hesitate to ask if you need more information.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Zoubir
Sra1
24
Hi Zoubir, you have a great cause and looking for a solution makes you a really great uncle. You’re in the right place to get help, and thank you for letting us know enable queue is backlogged, they should see an influx of people with printers signing up having read this.
You mentioned costs - nobody seems to have really covered that.
The hubs have various reasons for being here, Profit isnt always one of them, and whilst everyone has costs to cover, I would like to think nobody here would charge you anything for a project like this. To give you an idea of raw material cost, Plastic is usually priced per Kilogram, and the cheapest materials are PLA and ABS, and good quality PLA sells around €20-€50 per kg. Its also rather unlikely your nephew would require a 1kg hand. The only variables are the printers time and energy costs. I’d like to think these would all be waived to help your nephew.
Something else nobody mentioned yet - as your nephew grows the arm will need to grow too, requiring parts to be periodically replaced with bigger ones. I don’t know how frequently this qould happen, it mainly depends on your nephew!
Are you clear on your next steps, and do you have someone identified to help you print this?
Good luck to you and your nephew and please keep us posted.
Hi Chris,
Thank you so much for taking time to answer me. I really appreciate.
All the aspects you’ve pointed out are right and the developpment of my nephew hand is one of them. I expect to ask for new printed hand till he stops growing. Then, I will look for a permanent chirurgical solution option.
But meanwhile, I really need to achieve the 3D part. My request is still in the Enable queue and I have no idea when or where the project will start, there is no visibility about the request and I understand this, since it is a volunteer organization.
So, regarding your last question, I unfortunatly have no one identified to help. I also contacted some “private” organization but none is answering. I would really be happy to help about the total cost required to realize it, but first I need someone to help.
I also got in touch with a guy from Handesign, he was ready to do it, but then realized that he can only make a Raptor design not a Phoenix one.
I also contacted “Open Bionics” via their contact form, but they don’t answer.
I keep hope (L’espoir fait vivre )
Thank you again and best regards.
Zoubir
Enza3D
26
Zoubir,
I’ve been looking over the e-nable site over the last few days, and have decided I would like to help you with this especially since you’re having so much difficulty finding someone locally to do it for/with you. I’ll preface this by saying my team and I have never done a prosthetic in the past, but I am a mechanical engineer and have very strong modeling/design skills. We do a fair number of complex mechanical models both for our day jobs and at home, so as long as you’re a bit patient while we learn the ins and outs of these designs, we can definitely help you out.
Shoot me an email at hubs@enza3d.com and we’ll talk more about getting this done and what we need to get started!
1 Like
Hi,
Am very happy to read your answer. Finally some hope!
Regarding your previous message about french universities, I’ve contacted ENS and EcoleCentrale, without any success.
Am on my way to write to you on the email address you mentioned.
Again thank you for lighting the candle.
Best regard,
Zoubir
Bonjour Zoubir,
please drop us an email to info@futurefabbers.com. We will be happy to give you some additional information which need to be considered. 3DHubs is a
commercial platform. They get for a provision for any part having ordered via 3DHubs. Something else and very important which I would like to point out:
A 3D printed hand is a medical device. In Europe these devices may only be produced by following given laws and regulations. Most importantly is that medical devices may only be distributed by medical experts. However there are possibilities to provide you that hand. Therefore please drop us an direct email.
a bientot
Özlem
kr0sh1
29
So you think the government would prevent the sale of the print due to it being medical in nature? The purpose of a print is not technically defined by 3DHubs so surely they’d be exempt from any liability or bureaucracy?
