A student spent 100 hours in front of a 3D printer to make a multifunction prosthesis for his little sister

I did my final year project (now called Final Degree) on the gasification conditions of a biofuel as best I could and then, on something else butterfly. The truth is that I barely remember it because it has rained a lot since then and I had no special interest in it. And here is probably some good advice in case a student reads us: if you can, choose a project that you are passionate about because you are going to dedicate many, many hours to it.

And whoever says they are passionate, says they need, as happened to Vitaliy Bondarchuk, a 22-year-old mechanical engineering student at Bob Jones University in Greenville (South Carolina). Upon completion of your degree He was very clear about what his final year project was going to be.: a prosthetic arm for his little sister.

A very close problem. Her sister, Bella, 7, was born with a congenital malformation: she was born without her left arm below the elbow. How does it count andIn his interview for PeopleVitaliy Bondarchuk knew from a young age that things were “a little more difficult or in some cases much more difficult” for her. Bondarchuk’s final year project required him to address a real-life problem and try to solve it.

As explains Vitaliy for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers: “The challenge I tried to solve was helping him do simple tasks, things he enjoys.” According to the now graduate, he had never seen a multi-tool prosthesis: “It seemed like a very basic idea, a prosthetic arm with different accessories. But I could never find anything like it.” And that’s not to mention the cost: 3D printed prostheses They usually cost much less than conventional ones and it is possible to do them on your own by going to repositories such as those of e-NABLE.

How did he do it. Bondarchuk knew that he “couldn’t create a complete prosthetic arm,” so he opted for a solution where accessories could be swapped out as needed. That is, a specific tool for each activity, such as painting or playing Uno, for which he created a card holder.

To achieve this solution within the CBP deadline, he spent hours planning, documenting, measuring, designing and ensuring every detail. With creativity and perseverance on one hand and, on the other, measurements, SolidWorks for design and a 3D printer, he began to create prototypes, check the fit and start again. One of its great challenges was a reality applicable to prostheses: the design had to incorporate non-abrasive padding to avoid damaging the skin.

The project. Bondarchuk estimates that he spent 100 hours developing the prosthetic arm and four months later, he had documentation, design manuals, different proposals and the multifunction prosthesis, with tools to play his favorite game, a flashlight or a brush holder. He got an A and his sister Bella got a prosthetic arm that she uses daily.

The future: an endless prosthesis. Although Vitaliy Bondarchuk is already a working mechanical engineer, his project did not end with defending his PFC: he plans to continue modifying Bella’s prosthetic arm as she grows with the new hobbies she acquires. His mother has already dropped that the next one could be a driving accessory, account for People.

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Cover | Vitaliy Bondarchuk via ASME