Weapon ‘cheap’ printed at home

‘Hakuna Matata’, two words in Suajili, a language spoken in countries such as Zanzíbar, Tanzania and Kenya (Africa). An expression that Walt Disney made popular with ‘The Lion King’ and that his literal translation is ‘no problem’, although the big screen has taken over as ‘lives and happy’.

That’s what he thought Guillermo MartínezA 23 -year -old from Madrid who took a flight to Nairobi (Kenya) last July. Stepked African Territory, it was on other plane stairs to reach Eldoret, but the journey had not yet ended. The final phase, already by car, would go to the small region of Kabarnet, a community of just over 29,000 inhabitants Where is the orphanage that the young Madrid led to undertake this adventure. A long journey that “started at the start of the year,” says Martínez.

Guillermo Martínez has accompanied his favorite childhood and has set up his small workshop in his room surrounded by Star Wars, Digimon and Transformers Dolls. Just like his heroes, he remains Your weapons: a laptop and a 3D printer. “This technology was very interested, but I couldn’t afford a printer of this type,” he explains. However, the progress and development of 3D printing has made cheaper access to this type of devices possible. Internet and 160 euros made the rest and gave the start of this 3D adventure.

Career -engineer And passionate about this type of print, his “small” printer allowed him to make his designs through layers. Small figures who accompany him in his improvised workshop and who made a connection with his other passion: volunteering.

The first tests led him to more complex projects and “there I remembered that there are associations and companies that make different types of prostheses,” says the 23 -year -old. “It was the first test of large pieces that I made with my printer.”

So were born First prostheses made based on internet videos and studies “without anyone’s help”. “Simple” impressions that are able to take small objects. But the challenge was even greater: designing his own prostheses. A new “Hakuna Matata”.

New hours of videos, new computer sketches and more tests. A week of work with the laptop and 12 hours of printing, which steals the young man from his day to day. “The next step is to improve the current prostheses and to design a new hand,” he says.

His latest projects are carried out in thermoplastic connected to a set of voltage and rubber threads, which They allow it to “catch” objects of “up to 10 kilos” With the natural movement of the arm. “I designed prostheses for people without a lace,” he says. Designs that the young man finances from his pocket. Although it has not encrypted the costs, Martínez calculates -without the nearest hours of work -that the production costs of each of his prostheses are “just over 30 euros”.

Solidarity trip

So, with almost 200 euros in prostheses or what is the same, five projects and different spare parts filled his suitcase to travel to Kenya. An adventure that has already been programmed with the NGO Bamba project. “Before this project I had organized the journey and I thought about contributing something else,” explains the Madrid.

What initially would be a displacement to help the little ones of a modest orphanage of the Rift Valley (Kabarnet, Kenya) became a technological adventure and solidarity. ‘I contacted the orphanage and they told me that There was a fairly large community of people who had lost some arm Or they were born without him around Kabarnet. “

A three -month -old race started to make his designs come true. “A week they sent me different photos of WhatsApp and for the design I only had the images, I calculated the measures per eye,” says Martínez. Another ‘Hakuna Matata’ for the young man.

“Because no discharged prostheses were made of the internet for people who missed the elbow, I thought: I have left two months before my trip, maybe I can do something. Then I started designing a new prosthesis of the entire arm.” Weeks work and dedication, because each of his prostheses adapts and retouches them.

Tests and impressions that ended on time before July 21, when the plane left for Nairobi. “I was afraid when I didn’t arrive, in case there were problems in customs …”, details. More than ten hours of flight, two scales and many other hours travel away to start an adventure that would have a month. Although this would only be the beginning.

The appointment was marked in two days: “The first was easy because they were prostheses for people with elbow -relata -but The second was the test with my design. There were small problems with the nerves, but in the end everything went perfectly. “

The initial fear drawn: “They did not understand what that was or what the 3D imprint is,” he recalls. The smiling and thanks have arrived for improving their quality of life. “I will finally be able to take a book and at the same time write on the board”He told Guillermo one of the Kenyans to whom this prosthesis will help in his daily day as a high school.

A second chance for a population that survives with less than one euro a day. Prosthesis that have traveled more than 8,700 kilometers in exchange for a smile. “This is very little accessible in these countries,” says Martínez. “My intention is to continue printing adapted prostheses and to travel to the country to deliver them. And on one of the trips that I have in mind to wear a 3D printer, but to continue with this project I need financing. “