Open-source 3D printed VR gloves for only $22

Lucas VRTech is a young YouTuber who made a pair of 3D printed VR gloves VR for just $22. Called LucidVR, the gloves are completely open-source and were dreamed up during lockdown – Lucas just wanted to keep himself busy and had no idea his project would grow to such a scale. Today, more than 200,000 people are following the project and the student intends to pass on his love for virtual reality by showing that it can be accessible if you have the right tools.

The project was born from Lucas’ desire to reduce the cost of haptic VR gloves. These accessories allow people to use their hands in a completely realistic way in virtual reality, such as really being able to feel the seized object or the touch of a surface, etc. The immersion is total. The problem is the accessibility to this technology as it can only be bought at relatively high prices. This is where the YouTuber Lucas VRTech comes in. He explains on his site, “Currently, most VR Haptic Glove products out there are extremely expensive and are targeted for commercial use. In starting this project, I wanted to create a budget, but still well-functioning VR Haptic Glove that’s cheap and easy for people to get their hands on.”

LucidVR’s different prototypes (photo credits: Lucas VRTech)

3D printing played a key role in the development of LucidVR gloves

He turned to FDM 3D printing to design a first prototype and test his ideas. Currently, the LucidVR gloves are in their third iteration. At the moment, they allow the wearer to follow their fingers without the need for dedicated VR controllers; Lucas intends to add haptic feedback later. But what’s particularly interesting about this project is the cost of manufacturing: Lucas claims that it cost him just $11 to produce one glove, which includes the expense of the filament used and the necessary components. Of course, you’ll need a desktop machine – however there are many affordable models available.