Students from The Nature School in Port Macquarie have created a 3D-printed prosthetic hand for their classmate, Lois Agnello. Using an open-source design from Australian charity Free 3D Hands, the students spent months learning how to use a 3D printer and experimenting with materials before producing a functional hand. The project began when Lois, who was born with only part of her left hand, approached her science and technology teacher to see if she could build a prosthetic of her own with help from her classmates.
The students held lunchtime sessions over three months, testing different fibres and refining their technique before printing the first prototype. The hand works through upper-arm movement and can pick up objects, exceeding Lois’s expectations. “I was like, oh my god this is crazy,” she said. “I didn’t even know if it would work.” For many students, it was their first experience with 3D printing, and their teacher Lloyd Godson described it as a significant learning curve that sparked creativity and teamwork.
Since completing the initial prototype, the students have continued to collaborate with Free 3D Hands to improve the design. They have printed three more versions, each more advanced and comfortable than the last. Free 3D Hands founder Mat Bowtell praised their enthusiasm and involvement in brainstorming new design features. The group aims to keep enhancing the prosthetic to make it more functional for everyday use.
The project has grown beyond its original goal of building a single prosthetic hand. Lois and her classmates now plan to print hands for other children who need them, using open-source models and school resources. “It makes me feel pretty good, because we are designing loads of different styles,” said student Wren McDowell. Classmate Joel Banwell added that seeing Lois use the hand made him want to make future designs even better.
Their efforts have been recognised internationally, with the team selected to represent Australia at the Be the Change Youth Summit in Tokyo later this year. Lois will share her story with young innovators from around the world, hoping to inspire others to create 3D-printed assistive devices in their own communities. “Other kids will be like, whoa, that’s cool, can I try that?” she said.
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*All Photo Credits: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation