Princeton Academy eighth grader Chase Quijano has organized a student-led project to create 100 prosthetic hands using 3D printers.

Quijano, a Hopwell resident and member of Boy Scout Troop 43, is partnering with the e-NABLE, a global group that is using 3D printers to create free 3D printed hands and arms for those in need of an upper limb assistive devices. A company called AntiMatters is donating the filament for the hands.

A build-a-thon will be held at the Princeton Academy on Sunday, Dec. 3 at noon to create hands. Families, sports teams, scouts, schools, and clubs will participate in the event and assemble 3D printed prosthetic hands. The goal is to build 100 hands for e-NABLE. To date, 40 hands have been printed or promised. Quijano hopes anyone in the Princeton area with access to a 3D printer will participate and print several hand kits so that there will be plenty to assemble at the build-a-thon.The hands will be given to e-NABLE to donate to children and adults around the world.

Quijano learned about e-NABLE after completing his own 3D printed hand with muscle-controlled motors for a summer 4-H county fair project. For some families, purchasing prosthetic hands for a growing child is too expensive. 3D printing is helping to ease the burden.

To register for the build-a-thon or for more information, visit the Princeton Academy website.