Kids and their 3D-printed fingers (pictures)

Liam, a 5-year-old South African boy, was born without fingers on his right hand due to amniotic band syndrome. But with the help of his own 3D-printed fingers, he can perform precise movements like picking up coins.

Richard van As, who lost his own fingers in an accident, developed the 3D-printed prosthesis called Robohand.

"I can pick up stuff," Liam says in a Robohand video. "I can throw a ball."

The subject of an Indiegogo fundraising campaign, Robohand has so far helped four children in South Africa.

Dylan, who also lacks fingers on his right hand, flexes his 3D-printed Robohand digits.

"I'm excited to try cricket, golf, and go swimming with it," he says.

Eden, who received her own pink Robohand, holds a ball in her right hand for the first time.

Robohand consists of a gauntlet, hand cap, and fingers 3D-printed on a MakerBot Replicator 2. It has simple functionality: when the wrist is bent, a series of cables retracts the digits, allowing the user to grasp objects.

Waldo also received a Robohand. As he grows, larger parts can be easily printed and fitted to his prosthesis.

"It's fun to have, awesome. And I can do almost everything with it," he says. "My friends think it's awesome."