Inspired to help after a 2015 earthquake in Nepal, a non-profit tech startup is making functional and affordable prosthetic hands using a 3D printer.

Disaster Hack founder Matthew Rockwell first 3D-printed hands for a little girl who lost her limbs after being electrocuted by hanging power lines and replaced the crushed hand of a construction worker.

"We've only distributed to five so far but we have a list that keeps on growing," said Rockwell.

While only able to print hands for now (printing legs would require a larger 3D printer), Rockwell has located over 7,000 people in Nepal who might benefit from his prosthetic creations.

"A traditional prosthesis costs anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000 to $5,000," Rockwell explained.

"Now we're able to produce prostheses for right around $30 so it (3D printing) lowers the cost dramatically for a functional prosthesis."

In the future, Rockwell hopes to reduce the cost of 3D printing the prosthetics even more by recycling plastic bottle caps to create the wire that feeds the printer.