Build Your Own Mechanical Hand: A Hands-On Guide

Quick answer

Build a fully functional robotic hand with the Smartivity Mechanical Hand kit. This guide walks you through each step to assemble the realistic hand anatomy.

Step-by-step assembly guide

1. 1. Organize your pieces: Lay out all parts from the kit: pre-cut wooden pieces, rubber bands, strings, and connectors. Check against the instruction manual to ensure nothing is missing. Missing a small piece? Contact customer support before starting.
2. 2. Assemble the palm base: Fit the main palm piece with the wrist connector. Insert the dowels for each finger joint. Ensure the holes align correctly so fingers move smoothly. If joints feel stiff, gently sand the dowel ends to reduce friction.
3. 3. Attach the finger segments: Thread each finger segment onto its dowel, alternating with small spacers. Secure the tip with a cap piece. Repeat for all five fingers. Don't overtighten; fingers need slight play to curl naturally.
4. 4. String the tendons: Feed the string through the holes on each finger segment, starting from the tip. Tie the end to the finger tip, then run the string down to the palm and out through the wrist hole. Leave a small loop at the tip so the string doesn't slip out.
5. 5. Add rubber bands for tension: Hook rubber bands between the finger segments and the palm. These pull the fingers back to a straight position after you release tension on the strings. Use bands of equal length for even finger movement.
6. 6. Test and adjust: Pull each string gently. The finger should curl. Release to see it spring back. Adjust string tension or rubber band placement if fingers stick. If a finger doesn't straighten, add a stronger rubber band or check for knots.

Product facts

• Build Your Own Mechanical Hand: Construct a fully-functional robotic hand with realistic finger movement that mimics human hand anatomy. Kids learn about joints, bones, and tendons while building, making abstract anatomy concepts tangible.