Students use 3-D printing to create prosthetic hand for classmate

LANCASTER, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) - Students in Lancaster created a unique prosthetic hand for a classmate by using a computer and 3-D printer.

Astine Bales was born without a left hand. She plays trumpet in the marching band and had difficulty gripping the instrument.

Three classmates then spent months creating the design on the computer and printed it out.

"It is specifically designed for an instrument," said Lancaster ninth-grader Murray Robertson. "It's different that what you could go to a company and get. And that sort of makes it special. But we're hoping to improve it, so it becomes as functional as possible."

The principal called this a life-changing project for Astine.