Hey Michael,
I suppose that the needs of homeless people as regards prosthetic design may be somewhat different from those of somebody who lives in a home, and living in Southern Calif may also factor in. Perhaps Gyrobot’s Flexyhand, made from Recreus Filaflex would be worthy of consideration. It’s flexible and available in flesh tones as well as other colours. Recreus and Gyrobot might be persuaded to help you out. Only one problem is that not everybody can print with Filaflex. It can be a bit fiddly to start with.
Cheers!
AndyL
Pot8oSh3D
Oops! I meant Flexy Hand 2…
Just found Gyrobot here on 3DHubs. He’s probably been reading this already but anyway…
https://www.3dhubs.com/swindon/hubs/gyrobot
Wow, thanks for all the information. I actually wasn’t familiar with the Flexy-Hand but that definitely looks
like a possible product to use for the services we are trying to provide. Do you know how common it is for
3D labs to have filaflex printing capability?
Hello Michael, I write a monthly column on 3D Printing with 3D World magazine/CreativeBloq.com, I’d like to learn more about what you’re doing. Can’t help in the printer or material department, but maybe I can get you some press to assist your endeavor. I’ll email you shortly if you’re interested?
Hello,
I am definitely interested in all types of collaboration, as this project will only thrive through teamwork and multifaceted approaches. Please e-mail me at michaelrepajic@gmail.com at your earliest convenience. Thank you.
Regards,
Michael
1 Like
kobster
17
AA - I’m working on a similar project for Ghana. Would love to connect to get some press for it. Hit me up at k.oseikusi@gmail.com
Thanks,
1 Like
Hmmm. Interesting question, and perhaps my answer will be somewhat contentious.
Let’s say that it’s been available long enough that most experienced hubs should have experimented with it and figured out good settings by now. Most printers are capable of printing with NinjaFlex. Some need a new nozzle, which is available from Recreus. It’s not rocket science. 
Cheers!
AndyL
Pot8oSh3D
Hi @kobster want to share your project on talk as well? We can help promote it on our social channels and hopefully get more media attention for you.
kobster
20
Great. Let’s connect over email - k.oseikusi@gmail. Thanks.
I would be willing to help out with the smaller pieces. I have a high resolution printer with a resin that is designed for toughness and impact strength.
I’m printing my 2nd e-Nable hand.
The first was for an Adult in his 30s missing his hand since birth. The project I’ve now entered requires a lot of customisation for a girl who’s till has some function in her hand. Overall the e-Nable project is very rewarding and helps you hone your skills as a designer/maker. Next to that, they have several openings for volunteers, so if you want to support, but don’t want to commit to print, other help is needed too…
I am fine with printing. How are you going through the design process? If you give me a list of part sizes I can tell you what I can fit in my printer.
James_2
24
@michael_repajic
Just curious why you would need to set up another not for profit and do a kickstarter for money when you are using e-nable produced open source products and e-nable volunteers will already provide hands for FREE.
It is a great movement and lots of us hubsters are volunteers where we fund materials, time and postage!
Maybe look more closely at the e-able model as there are 3000 volunteers and already nearly 1000 recipients matched.
an example of what it is like when a recipient gets a printed e-nable hand!
James
Hi James,
I am very aware of e-nable’s amazing work and cause. It is truly an inspiration. I am setting up a collaboration
between 3D labs and filament companies as well as doctors and other medical professionals in order to have a
multifaceted approach to this project. I eventually want to gain support from larger companies with the possibility
of monetary donations so I can set up scholarships for the kids that we are fitting with prosthetic hands. There are
more things I plan to do with this project beyond simply fitting more candidates.
I go to school at USC and there is a group called Global Medical Brigades which takes medical missions to developing
countries. I created a group called Global Medical Training which offers clinical experience and skills to premed students
through medical missions to Central America. This may seem redundant as well, but in my opinion, if there are more groups
that exist then it only means that more people will be helped across the world.
Thanks for your inquiry.
Michael
I also had a quick question, James.
For the 3D printed hands, a kit of screws, tendon “lines”, velcro and other materials is necessary that costs $25-35
per kit. I am currently purchasing those kits but wanted to know if there is a way to get those donated as well as
you emphasized that the hands are all FREE.
I appreciate your help.
Regards,
Michael
James_2
27
@michael_repajic
I understand your aims - but would have thought that a logical step would be to try and build on what e-nable has already created - they have links all over the world, and in many academic institutions. Lots of health professionals are involved in both distributing existing designs and in the development of new ones.
The kits are to make it ‘easy’ - it is not that hard to cut those costs by just going through the specification and sourcing them yourself.
newer designs are all snap pins - so only a few screws, a reel of monofilament fishing line makes a lot of hands and the velcro can be sourced through e-bay - and new developments are looking at 3d printing thermo-form mesh in stead.
so lots of developments going on.
At the moment volunteers pay all their own costs - ‘vitamines’ (i.e. non printed parts) filament, printer time and postage. If there are people who want to print but can’t afford it then some volunteers will even pay their costs!
So far it is a word volunteer effort with the hands being free to recipients - of course they do cost time and money to make and deliver - but not a lot.
If you were looking at the ‘need’ then I would ask e-nable - in some areas there are more volunteers than recipients - and more and more everyday, so the supply side is a growing capacity. For more complicated devices there are waiting lists because teams are grouping around the devices and developing them more before they are released to the community.
Good luck with the venture but also do consider adding your thoughts to the e-nable community as you may find that there are already solutions to many of the issues you are trying to resolve - and then you could add the bits that re currently missing!
James
James,
I am building on what e-nable has already created. They have all the products and connections already made and I am in contact with them closely as I try to develop the project more. I’m just trying to set up a project that extends enable’s mission and gives their cause more support as my project will be based in Los Angeles and will reach out to other countries as well in order to increase the number of people served and also hopefully reduce the time it takes to produce necessary products. My mission is not to compete with e-nable, and I hope it hasn’t come across as that. Since I have developed interest in this, so many others have joined me and are willing to assist in any way they can. The responses I have received and collaboration with e-nable and other companies made me realize that I can help by increasing awareness and connecting willing parties. Thanks for your help.
Michael
James_2
29
@michael_repajic
Those of us that contribute our time and effort are just a bit wary of the number of kickstarter campaigns that we see where the message writer has not yet printed or provided one hand, but uses the photographs and the laudable ambitions of e-nable that has printed and supplied over 1000 for free - i.e. no kickstarter.
So I guess i am just questioning your message which says we will print some hands and then launch a kickstarter (to raise money) with the aim to promote the cause, and get sponsorship.
I would love to hear more about how you are going to work to coordinate all the relief organisations and current providers in the field to ensure that the efforts are not diluted.
I am not questioning your motives, just the need to move to a kickstarter model so quickly!
Good luck with your project!
James
I definitely understand where you’re coming from. Sorry I didn’t mention that I have printed 3 hands to date and helped e-nable print hands for Haiti. My understanding of kickstarter was simply to raise awareness and support from the community at large, but I must’ve misunderstood the meaning of kickstarter as I now suppose it implies raising money. The only fundraising Id like to do is for the scholarships Id like to set up. Take care
