CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Caleb Boyce is a seventh-grader at Montgomery Central Middle School. He’s an honor roll student and an alumni of NASA space camp.
But the 12-year old has two other jobs that are equally important: mowing lawns and creating prosthetics for amputees using a 3-D printer.
Caleb belongs to e-NABLE. It is a global community of people who use 3D printers and create free prosthetics.
“I want to build at least three hands this summer,” he said.
Getting started
Caleb learned 3D printing as early as age 7, and received his first 3D Printer for Christmas at age 10. Caleb’s first prints included an X-wing starfighter from Star Wars, a Boba Fett character, and a replica of the Eiffel Tower.
Caleb Boyce and Christopher Boyce worked in the yard to earn money to purchase a replacement printer.
The 3D printed hand is useful in many ways, both personally and economically. Caleb explains that a prosthetic hand normally costs $5,000-$100,000. A 3D printed hand, however, is made for only $50.
“They help people who don’t have health insurance, and it also provides an opportunity for growing kids who might need a new hand every six to 12 months,” Caleb said. “It also helps kids overcome their fear of being different, and it gives people a functional hand that enables them to do things that they couldn’t do without it.”
Caleb’s first hand was created using e-NABLE patterns and instructions. The hands attach to a person’s wrist, which allows for movements in the hand to grasp things such as a water bottle or bike handles. The hands are more of a tool than a full prosthetic device.
Expanding on the idea
Caleb hopes that e-NABLE can create a Montgomery County chapter and expand the club’s membership, which has currently only two members. For an e-NABLE group, a leader must be over 18, and a hand test must be submitted and approved. Caleb’s chapter can be created on Facebook once these steps have been completed. He can then start making hands freely for people in need.
“I also have to teach 3D printing to new members and learn as we go. Eventually, I want to establish our chapter’s very own maker’s space where we can come together with multiple printers so we can help as many people as possible,” Caleb said.
Typically, a 3D printed hand can take a day or longer to create, so a maker’s space would allow for Caleb to print multiple hands in a day.
Lawn Care Business
Caleb is currently funding his projects by doing yardwork and helping with household chores. He started yard work for his neighbors in March 2023. In May, he opened his own lawn care business. “It’ called 4:12 Lawn Care because of 1 Timothy 4:12,” Caleb said. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and purity.”
Caleb currently has 11 customers, including six repeat clients. “Many people were motivated to hire me because of my mission, and I hope I set an example for other kids,” he said.
Since March, he’s earned more than $1,300. The profits have helped him pay for a portion of a new printer with hopes to purchase a higher-quality 3D printer and create the designated maker’s space.
Caleb is available on Facebook for those who want to support him or need lawn services.
