Prosthetic limbs change lives — but they’re often expensive and slow to make. Traditional upper-limb prosthetics can cost thousands of dollars and take weeks or months to produce, leaving many people without the help they need. The Victoria Hand Project, based at the University of Victoria in Canada, is proving there can be a better way. By combining smart engineering, a global network of clinics, and the power of 3D printing, they can deliver custom prosthetic hands for around 150 USD in materials — and often fit a patient within days.

 

“Our goal is simple: help people with limb loss worldwide by providing low-cost, 3D-printed prostheses that can be produced on-site,” says founder and Chief Technical Officer Dr. Nick Dechev.

From curious students to a project with global impact

The idea started in 2015 when Dr. Dechev’s lab and a group of engineering students tried 3D printing a prosthetic hand. The first test prints were surprisingly strong and functional. They kept refining the design, version after version, adding features, improving durability, and listening to feedback from patients and clinicians.

Today, the Victoria Hand Project works with partners in 11 countries — each able to create and fit devices locally. The workflow is simple:

 

  • A certified prosthetist measures the patient’s limb and takes a plaster cast.
  • The cast is 3D-scanned and brought into Autodesk Fusion 360.
  • From there, the Victoria Hand Project’s custom-built fitting software takes over. Traditionally, creating a perfectly fitting socket model in CAD is a complex, hours-long process that requires a highly trained designer. This software automates the process — it analyzes the scan, adapts the geometry to the patient’s exact measurements, and outputs a ready-to-print model in minutes.
  • The parts are then printed and assembled on-site, often overnight, with the patient fitted the very next day.

 

“Everything happens locally,” says CEO Michael Peirone. “That cuts down cost, delivery time, and makes sure people get the care they need when they need it.”

The automation provided by the custom-built software is what makes the project scalable and so impactful. Clinics in developing regions or conflict zones often don’t have CAD specialists on staff. With the software, any trained prosthetist can prepare a custom-fit prosthesis without learning complex 3D modeling. That means patients can be fitted much sooner, which is critical for regaining fine motor skills. Watch more about Victoria Hand Project in-house-made software.

Closer look at the Victoria Hand 

The latest Victoria Hand design is a balance of strength, precision, and ease of repair. The palm and fingers include small laser-cut metal plates for smooth, reliable movement, while joints and connectors are 3D printed.

Tips of fingers use silicone for better grip and flexibility, combined with a PLA structure for strength and lightness.

The hand can be locked in several positions, letting users perform daily tasks like cooking, working, holding tools, or even operating a camera. If a part wears out, it can be reprinted and replaced in hours — no need to send it away for service.

Powered exclusively by the Original Prusa XL

When the Victoria Hand Project looked for the right printer, they needed more than just a big build volume. The Original Prusa XL ticks all the right boxes — from a large print volume, consistent print quality, to features like automated calibration and Power Panic for recovering from outages.

For above-elbow sockets, the build volume is essential, and a typical socket takes about 9.5 hours to print, enabling quick turnarounds even in challenging environments.

The XL’s modular design and multi-tool capability also make it adaptable for future developments, from testing new materials to multi-component printing.

Big Impact in Ukraine

One of the newest partners of the project is Arol Plus clinic in Lviv, Ukraine — a large, modern facility producing all types of prosthetic devices for people affected by war. They now run several Original Prusa XL printers, used exclusively for Victoria Hand designs.

Clinic director Oleksandr Herasymenko explains the value of 3D printing:

“Patients who quickly receive functional upper-limb prostheses can restore their skills much faster. Fine motor skills take time to relearn — the sooner we start, the better the results.”

With the XLs, the clinic can produce and fit hands in days instead of weeks. The ability to print sockets, arms, and replacement parts on-site means they can adapt designs to each patient’s needs.

“A 3D printer doesn’t need a lunch break or a vacation,” Oleksandr adds. “It works 24/7 so we can keep producing exactly what we need.”

A working project

The Victoria Hand Project is constantly improving its designs. Recent updates include internal and external elbow rotation for a more natural range of motion, and refinements to make printing and assembly even easier for partner clinics. They also fine-tune the software.

“We want to keep expanding so we can reach more people in need,” says Nick. “Ultimately, we hope to bring prosthetic care to anyone, anywhere in the world.”

Projects like this show that 3D printing can change lives. The question is — what can you make to help people?

 

Jakub Kmošek and Štěpán Feik