Add tactile grip to a 3d printed prosthetic

I worked on this project over the course of a semester at university. It was aimed at addressing the issue of high costs in currently available prosthetics. I wanted to design a prototype (using 3D CAD software) using emerging 3D printing technology to demonstrate the feasibility of the design and its advantages over non-functional (cosmetic) prostheses. The result was a prosthetic/robotic arm that cost roughly under $400, which I could probably bring down further, as I only had access to the university’s printer, and it’s an expensive machine. One of the problems I had was choosing grip for the surface and after scouring the internet for an appropriate material I found sugru, and it was the best solution (just in time for the presentation too)! Not only does it have the tactile surface I needed but its heat resistance is another benefit as I would expect potential users to grip hot objects like coffee and tea. The project can be seen here too.