Have you ever been working on a project and needed an extra hand? I have designed a prototype that will hold, grab, and clamp your projects while leaving your hands free to build and work. The 3rd hand is engineered to grasp almost any object securely with an easy adjustment of the ball jointed fingers and arm extension. The flexible arm is capable of reaching around corners, fitting in cramped places and even working upside down with the aid of a strong suction cup base mount. I believe this prototype is practical and something I would use. Builders and DIY'ers alike should be able to access productive tools such as this. I hope this instructables contest produces great products from inventive minds all around the globe. If you like my design and idea, support my efforts in creating this instructables by commenting, liking, following and voting for my idea. Thanks.

Step 1: Designing the Base

For this first step I took a dome from the primitive shapes category and placed it in the center of the workspace. This represents a suction cup on my prototype. A cylinder was added to the dome/suction cup; I then used the fillet tool to round off the edge in between. Then I added a sphere and filleted the difference between the cylinder and sphere.

Step 2: Designing the Joints

For the joints on the arm of this prototype, I used a shelled out dome with a filleted cylinder connected to another sphere on top. To the base on the dome I added a beveled o ring designed to sit halfway over on the ball joint so it is held in place. I added another o ring to the base to simulate a suction cup.

Step 3: Designing the Arm Extension

For the arm extension, I used the copy and paste tool to reproduce 17 total chrome/black ball and socket links. I stacked and rotated the joints to give the perception of motion and show their flexibility.

Step 4: Designing the Hand

For the hand I created a joint that is connected to a thin sided dome for the palm of my hand. Then I designed brackets for my hinges to give my design a realistic motion. I placed cylinders in between the two brackets. In between the outer brackets I placed rounded triangles to give the shape of the human hand.

Step 5: Designing the Fingers

For the fingers I started by placing shelled domes on my hinges. These act as knuckles for the hand. I then placed beveled o rings on the spheres. Into the domes I placed spheres. From here I used the same joint process as earlier only using a thinner cylinder for the finger portion. On the third joint of the finger I put black domes representing rubber fingertips to give functionality when holding objects.

The 3rd Hand is my attempt at creating something practical for my projects as a builder and DIYer. I hope that by reading this instructable you can, and have seen the potential and uses for this design. I have spent many hours of my time on this creation. It was a challenge learning the program and bringing the design to completion. This is my first instructables entry, and I want to thank you for your time reading and (hopefully) voting for me and my design. If you feel that this project is worthy of winning this competition, please vote for me and my efforts to win this contest. Whether or not you vote, I would greatly appreciate your comments. Please take the time to write a short review and give me a little encouragement, or constructive tips and ideas. Thank you very much once again for reading.... Happy future DIYing to you all! Enjoy!