Mechanical Hand

Project Snapshot

The mechanical hand allows the user to single-handedly extend their reach!

Build the grabbing mechanism, and then customize the grabber's grip so it can pick up a variety of everyday things.

Click to expand

Tools and Materials

• Hot glue gun

• Glue sticks

• Masking tape

• Craft sticks

• 1/2" craft cubes

• Cubes with holes

• 4" cable ties

• Straws

• 1/8" dowels

• ​Rubber bands

Tips and Troubleshooting

If the hand doesn't close when the trigger is pulled, then...

• Move the trigger farther from the handle.

• Redesign the angle of the "fingertips" so they're steeper. A hand with shallowly-angled fingers is harder to completely close.

If the hand doesn't open up automatically, then...

• Make sure the rubber bands are pulling the hand into an open position when the trigger isn't being pulled.

• Make sure there is nothing interfering with the mechanism, such as: loose bits of hot glue, the cable tie tied too tight, or excessive friction at the hinge.

If the trigger is hard to use with one hand, then...

• Review the video. Notice how the thumb is gripping the top of the thumb rest.

• Move the trigger closer to the handle to make it easier to grasp and pull, especially for small hands.