INTRODUCING STEADY HAND TOOL v1

Third hand tool - when you need extra help holding down really tiny parts. 

 

I designed and built Steady Hand Tool to help me overcome my Parkinson's disease induced hand tremors, which were making it impossible for me to keep working on my first project - a STEM focused soldering kit using ESP32 based Arduino compatible PCB board - NEAToBOARD.

 

10% of the net profit from selling Steady Hand Tool will go directly to support Team Fox, the grassroots fundraising program of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

 

Here is a list of other tools, that I found at the time, with none of them being quite what I wanted, so I created my own:

	name/link:	price:
	SMD Solder Holder	DIY
	Third Hand Solder SMD	DIY
	Locking ball and socket arm	DIY
	PCB Holder	DIY
	Precision Hand Stabilizer	$40
	vpapanik low budget manual PNP	DIY
	Pick so Easy	starts at $400
	MK1	$ ?
	SMT caddy	$ 3,000
	MP904	$ ?
	STEADY HAND TOOL	$75 + $100 parts for DYI

 

I designed Steady Hand Tool to be a a low cost, simple and manual SMT (Surface Mount Technology) PNP ( Pick And Place) tool, which can be put together as a DIY project in couple of hours and does not require batteries or power and makes no sound. You can buy all the external parts from us, or you can source them yourself.

 

My goal is to eventually make Steady Hand Tool available in all metal construction, with the final iteration being offered as a fully constructed and functional tool, but I have to start somewhere and this prototype is your chance to help me bring this tool to the market. It is also your chance to voice your feedback and help me determine its final look and functionality. If you want to see this tool become a real product, please support me, buy the prototype, use it and tell me what you think. And if you like it, then please tell your friends!

 

The first working prototype is 3D printed using PLA and will come as a DIY kit in your choice of three versions:

#1 "Steady Hand Tool PS" only 3D printed parts are included and you provide all bearings, rods, bolts and nuts (as well as you provide your own weights for the base)

You will need to supply the following (Amazon affiliate links):

	8mm/300mm carbon fiber rods
	MR128ZZ bearings
	Magnets
	Base weights
	M4 Bolts and nuts
	M3 Bolts and nuts

 

#2 "Steady Hand Tool PM" includes all 3D printed parts and all the bearings, rods, bolts and nuts, except for the weights for the base

You will need to supply the weights (Amazon affiliate links):

Base weights

 

#3 "Steady Hand Tool PL" includes all 3D printed parts and all the bearings, rods, bolts and nuts, as well as the bearing balls for the base weight.

 

 

We leave the choice of tweezers up to you, but we do offer our preferred option of tweezers that go perfectly with SHT, separately. We also recommend that you also pick a set of  ball-hex screwdrivers, if you don't have them yet (or even if you have only flat hex drivers) (Amazon affiliate links):

	Reverse tweezers
	Ball-Hex (allen) screwdrivers

 

There is also a selection of 3d models for Steady Hand Tool available, in case you would like to customize the base (for example) or create an attachment for a custom tool that will not fit into the current interface.

 

Steady Hand Tool in action: