Comments on: Kickstarting a cheap, versatile, sophisticated 3D printed robotic hand http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 23:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jeremy Sweeney http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1680090 Jeremy Sweeney Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1680090 A few ounces makes it as effective as one of those pincer-type prosthetics. I used lifting strength as a benchmark because it's a clear comparison, but the fingers also have to exert sufficient force to hold things between fingers. I doubt these will.  Also, there are much more advanced hands like the Shadow hand that, while expensive, still can't come anywhere close to the dexterity of the human hand. The hand above is probably 5 years from application to prosthetics. Again, it's great that these dudes are doing this and selling it with the prosthetics angle, but the reality is, it's not going to be suitable for that purpose. A few ounces makes it as effective as one of those pincer-type prosthetics. I used lifting strength as a benchmark because it’s a clear comparison, but the fingers also have to exert sufficient force to hold things between fingers. I doubt these will. 

Also, there are much more advanced hands like the Shadow hand that, while expensive, still can’t come anywhere close to the dexterity of the human hand. The hand above is probably 5 years from application to prosthetics. Again, it’s great that these dudes are doing this and selling it with the prosthetics angle, but the reality is, it’s not going to be suitable for that purpose.

]]> By: Jeremy Sweeney http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1680078 Jeremy Sweeney Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1680078 Nope. Machining labor is not free. It's pretty expensive because it's a skilled craft and you need years of experience to do it correctly. Nope. Machining labor is not free. It’s pretty expensive because it’s a skilled craft and you need years of experience to do it correctly.

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1679803 Boundegar Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1679803 What, this is the 21c.  Labor is practically free, and the price is dropping fast. What, this is the 21c.  Labor is practically free, and the price is dropping fast.

]]> By: Christopher Jones http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1679783 Christopher Jones Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1679783 Remember, you're talking about something for PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A HAND. A robotic hand that can be used to help put on clothes, eat food, tie shoes, hold phones, etc. could be life changing even if it's not as capable as a much more expensive hand. Remember, you’re talking about something for PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A HAND. A robotic hand that can be used to help put on clothes, eat food, tie shoes, hold phones, etc. could be life changing even if it’s not as capable as a much more expensive hand.

]]> By: hypnosifl http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1679617 hypnosifl Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1679617 "A few ounces" could cover a lot of things that are useful to grasp in everyday life--utensils, writing instruments, remote controls, books, phones, etc. Most people don't actually need to lift heavier things very often, I think, and a person with one of these could be aware of the weight limits and switch it for something less dextrous but more sturdy when needed. “A few ounces” could cover a lot of things that are useful to grasp in everyday life–utensils, writing instruments, remote controls, books, phones, etc. Most people don’t actually need to lift heavier things very often, I think, and a person with one of these could be aware of the weight limits and switch it for something less dextrous but more sturdy when needed.

]]> By: Jeremy Sweeney http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1679594 Jeremy Sweeney Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1679594 The labor is the real cost here. Probably a couple hundred hours of machining per hand, considering all the individual parts, which drives the price up super high. It's great to see someone trying as a proof of concept, even if the actual product is going to be more or less useless, but the convenience of  materials sacrifices a lot of actual usefulness. The labor is the real cost here. Probably a couple hundred hours of machining per hand, considering all the individual parts, which drives the price up super high. It’s great to see someone trying as a proof of concept, even if the actual product is going to be more or less useless, but the convenience of  materials sacrifices a lot of actual usefulness.

]]> By: jandrese http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1679589 jandrese Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1679589 I wonder how much more it would cost to have the thing machined out of aluminum or something so it doesn't break right away?  Plastic 3D printers are cool but kind of suck for moving parts.  Whatever actuators they're getting for $300 are probably going to be pretty bad/weak too.  Still, if this could be leveraged to jumpstart a $1,000 useful version. I wonder how much more it would cost to have the thing machined out of aluminum or something so it doesn’t break right away?  Plastic 3D printers are cool but kind of suck for moving parts.  Whatever actuators they’re getting for $300 are probably going to be pretty bad/weak too.  Still, if this could be leveraged to jumpstart a $1,000 useful version.

]]> By: Jeremy Sweeney http://boingboing.net/2013/03/14/kickstarting-a-cheap-versatil.html#comment-1679568 Jeremy Sweeney Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218702#comment-1679568 I'm very skeptical. This hand is gonna be able to lift only a few ounces, and probably won't stand up under a lot of strain like most printed components. but if they can drive that price down so low with electronics, it's gonna put the academics to shame.  I’m very skeptical. This hand is gonna be able to lift only a few ounces, and probably won’t stand up under a lot of strain like most printed components. but if they can drive that price down so low with electronics, it’s gonna put the academics to shame. 

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