Mechanical Design of a Low-Cost 3d Printed Artificial Forearm Prosthesis With the Ability for Individual Finger Control

Abstract

The prosthesis technology has had a renaissance in recent years, although the improved and natural control coupled with fast and fluid movements have led to devices which are very expensive and not attainable by the majority of people who need them. In this paper we present a mechanical design of a low-cost of 3D printed forearm prosthesis which has the ability for individual finger control using a sophisticated software solution by incorporating artificial intelligence. By using two actuators for each finger instead of one we allow for more precise and robust movements of the prosthetic, and by using affordable yet high-torque servomotors we can keep the price low while offering performance similar to much more expensive devices available on the market. The use of 3D printing is also used in order to drive down the cost of the prosthesis, by implementing materials which are inexpensive yet light, strong and durable.