8P2 - Bionic Hand

I plan on using the 3d printer for this project.

• Using TinkerCad and the Prusa MK4s, I created a bionic hand because I wanted to test if I could design something that could help people who are missing body parts. This project allowed me to explore how technology and 3D printing can be used to improve lives through assistive devices. It was a meaningful way to combine creativity, engineering, and empathy into one design. 

• During this process, I learned how to print hinges in place, which was a crucial part of the bionic hand's design. By using TinkerCad and the Prusa MK4s, I was able to print the hinge components directly onto the structure, making the hand more functional and reducing the need for additional assembly. This technique helped me better understand the importance of precision and design when creating moving parts in 3D prints. 

• My project ties to the Innovative Designer standard because I designed a bionic hand with moving parts from scratch. I had to think creatively to figure out how to incorporate functional elements like hinges while ensuring the design was practical and could be printed successfully. This process pushed me to innovate, problem-solve, and apply both technical and creative thinking to bring my idea to life. 

• A challenge I overcame on this project was that my print nearly failed due to some misshapen parts. To fix it, I used needle-nose pliers to carefully remove the faulty sections and reshape the pieces. This hands-on problem-solving helped salvage the print and taught me how to be patient and resourceful when things don’t go as planned. 

• Given a chance to do this again, I would change how I printed my project. The reason is that the print didn’t come out as clean as I hoped, with some parts not fitting together as well as they should. I’d adjust the settings, maybe use different materials or fine-tune the design to ensure a smoother, more accurate print from the start. This would help the final product function better and look more polished. 

• My project connects to the Engineering Design CTE program at Hastings High School because it involved designing, prototyping, and testing a functional object—just like an engineer would in a real-world scenario. I had to apply problem-solving skills, creativity, and technical knowledge to design a bionic hand with moving parts. The hands-on process of using TinkerCad and 3D printing mirrors the principles of engineering design, where iteration, testing, and refining are essential to creating effective solutions. 

• My project connects to careers in Design Engineering because I designed, printed, and refurbished the bionic hand from scratch. Just like a design engineer, I had to think critically about the functionality and structure of the hand, ensuring it was both practical and efficient. I also had to refine the design based on how the printing process turned out, which mirrors the iterative process that design engineers go through to perfect their products. 

I acknowledge that I used ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, to assist in composing and refining the written content of this project.