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Engineering Student Builds 6 Year-Old A Bionic Arm Free Of Charge

July 29, 2014

Engineering student Albert Moreno at the University of Central Florida is making a six-year-old's dream of being a normal kid come true with a new bionic arm.

All of the parts were made by a 3D printer.

6-year old Alex Pring was born with only half a right arm.

"He was like 2 or 3 the first time he realized. He was in preschool and they were showing him sames and differents. And he was just sitting in the car and he looked down and goes, my arms are different. And I said 'What do you mean?' And he goes, 'I don't have a hand,'" said his Mother Alyson.

And that's where their two story lines come together. Alex's mom was looking for someone she could get help from for her son and Albert was looking for someone he could give help to.

The arm works with electrodes attached to Alex's bicep. When he flexes, his hand clinches.

And after just a few fittings, he can throw a ball with the hand, and also write like any other kid.

Normal prosthetic arms can run tens of thousands of dollars, but because it was made with a 3D printer and common off the shelf gears, it cost only $350.

"We have a responsibility to do this. With these degrees in engineering... if we can't be helping people with it... then what are they worth?" said Moreno.

Via Fox News