Earlier this summer, Richey’s father attended a Prudential Scholars event in Washington, D.C. and was intrigued when he heard about similar projects.
“This was the top service project in the nation. Only 49 people have been approved to do this,” said Dr. Jason Richey. “The Sprindale School District tried to do something like this and couldn’t. It’s pretty intense, printing and assembling.”
Dr. Richey came back home and told his daughter all about what he’d learned.
Richey said, “When dad went to the event, he heard about the project and talked to someone. When Joni and I heard about it, we got really excited.”
Richey and Inman recently 3D printed the parts for the prosthetic, and assembled their first prototype hand, which is able to move and grasp objects. Their software company partner is inspecting and approving the prototype, which took 28 hours to print and 7 hours to assemble.
Once the company approves the prototype hand, Richey and Inman will get to work making more; while a medical prosthetic hand can carry costs of about $11,000, the hands that Give Me Five are producing will only cost $75 to build.
Richey and Inman will use the 3D printer at the district’s Career Center to print parts for prosthetic fingers, hands, and arms, though Dr. Richey said the two will look into getting a 3D printer of their own to use once the project takes off; he said that the goal is eventually produce 10 to 15 prosthetics a year.
Give Me Five will provide the fully functional, 3D printed prosthetics for free to patients in the US, and 45 other countries, who can’t afford expensive ones that are manufactured through conventional means.
Richey said, “We hope that by doing this, we can enable people to reach their full potential.”
Richey and Inman are working on a Mission Statement and a Vision Statement for Give Me Five, and have put together an advisory board, which includes Smith, whom the girls say was “instrumental” in helping them get the project off the ground. They’re also working on a website and raising funds for the charity, as well as researching possible grants.
Until the website is complete, people can contact the charity at richeyenable@gmail.com, which may indicate that the effort will be working with an eNABLE chapter. Discuss in the Give Me Five forum at 3DPB.com.
[Source/Images: Paris Express]