E-NABLE

In 2011, Ivan Owen created a metal, functional puppet hand for a Steampunk costume. After posting a video of the hand on YouTube, he was contacted by South African carpenter Richard Van As who had lost his fingers in a woodworking accident. Owen and Van As worked on prototypes of a prosthetic hand, before Owen decided to incorporate 3D printing into the design process. This led to the creation of the first 3D printed mechanical hand.^[1] The sharing of the design of this hand on an Open License led to the creation of the community.

The e-NABLE community "started with around 100 or so people who were simply offering to print the files that were already in existence".^[1]

Chapters of the organisation exist in many countries, and each works in different ways. For example, one Canadian chapter recycles excess plastic waste to create the prosthetics.^[2] A chapter in Aden, Yemen, is producing prosthetic hands for people injured in Yemen's civil war.^[3]

The Open Source nature of the project is enabling diverse groups around the world to create prosthetics for people within their own communities.^[4] A Colombian engineer called Christian Silva has created superhero-themed prosthetic arms for children.^[5] In 2016, an Iron Man-themed arm created by Albert Menero was given to a child by Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr.^[6]

The E-nable website contains a tool called the “Handomatic,” which is used to fit prosthetic hands according to the measurements of the individual recipient. The tool then creates a custom design which can then be downloaded.^[7]

• Body powered arms and hands^[8]
• Functional lower legs
• Myoelectric upper limbs
• Upper limb exoskeleton
• Tools
• Devices for people with vision impairment^[9]
• Teaching manipulatives