[3D Printing]MakeGood Unveils Low-Cost 3D Printed Children's Mobility Chair
Design data released for free on MakerWorld
Design data released for free on MakerWorld
If you visited our booth at Formnext, you might remember a specially dedicated area where we hosted special guests from the non-profit organization MakeGood. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, this organization is dedicated to innovative projects for people with disabilities.
At Formnext, MakeGood officially unveiled the "3D Printed Toddler Mobility Trainer (TMT)." This low-cost, open-source mobility aid was developed to improve the independence, physical coordination, and social skills of toddlers who have difficulty walking. This excellent project is now available on MakerWorld, where anyone can download the design data for free and produce it on a home 3D printer.
This is a mobility-assist wheelchair that doesn't require expensive equipment. Just one Bambu Lab P2S is enough. The entire project is optimized for this 3D printer.
| Maker Innovation: Colorful Children's Mobility Aids
The TMT is released as completely open source. MakeGood provides model data, assembly manuals, and educational materials for free on its official website (www.3dmobility.org) and on MakerWorld.
As long as you have a 3D printer compatible with PETG and TPU, anyone can produce a practical mobility aid for children aged 1 to 8 years. In situations where specialized assistive devices are hard to come by and commercially available products are too expensive for many families, this project is not just a technical challenge but a practical effort to change society.
This device is completed with a total production cost of approximately $150 USD, and most of its components are manufactured by 3D printing.
The materials required for assembly are as follows:
・Approximately 10 spools of PETG filament (minimum 8 spools; more if multi-color printing)
・2 to 3 spools of TPU filament (depending on print settings and whether cushions are printed)
・A small number of hardware parts: 6 bolts, 2 nuts, 2 washers, 2 front casters, 1 rear caster
If all parts are printed on a single 3D printer, it takes about one week, but using multiple printers can significantly shorten the production time.
However, the value of TMT is not just in being a successful open-source project. It also symbolizes the potential and growth of the Maker Movement. The device features a vibrant design and colorful appearance, and its low seat design allows children to naturally make eye contact with their friends.
It is designed for children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or developmental delays after NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) stays due to premature birth. For many young users, this mobility trainer is the first step towards independence and sometimes a crucial step in learning to walk.
Its significance was also demonstrated at Formnext. A family from Germany came with their son Keo, who had walking difficulties and needed a TMT. They were ultimately able to take home a mobility chair. Bambu Lab's support played a major role in making this touching event happen.
| Excellent 3D Printing Innovation Born from a Reddit Post
MakeGood is founded and operated by Noam Platt, a certified medical architect and expert in developing new technologies for people with disabilities.
Team members include Philip Dunham, Senior Design Director (who specialized in advanced computational design before becoming quadriplegic at C5 level due to a mountain bike accident in 1999), James Robert III, Senior Manufacturing Director (born with congenital limb deficiencies and an innovator in custom medical devices), as well as Dr. Ashley Volion, Dr. Sergio Cuevas, Sianna Paddie, Scott Reddoch, Marty McMahon, and Brett Swensen.
Schuyler Livingston, co-founder of LINK PBC and an experienced industrial designer, is also a key contributor to this project.
This "3D Printed Toddler Mobility Trainer" project began with a single Reddit post. Almost exactly one year after that post, this mobility aid was officially launched on MakerWorld.
Philip Dunham, who has a background in finance but has been involved in design for many years, later joined the team, and Hannah and Amber from TOM Global, an organization that connects makers with people in need of assistance, also joined the project.
From the outset of the project, the entire team shared a common goal: to create a device that was accessible to everyone, affordable to produce, easy to assemble, and as foolproof as possible. What began as a small-scale prototyping effort eventually evolved into a full-fledged design and engineering project, with hundreds of processes and analytical results organized on Miro boards and used as a roadmap for product evolution.
One of the key themes was how many parts could be 3D printed without compromising functionality.
Initially, some parts such as wheels and straps were planned to be commercially available, but after generations of prototyping and validation, the possibilities of 3D printing proved to be much wider than imagined. Ultimately, almost all parts, from the frame to the seat and straps, could be molded with PETG and TPU, requiring only small metal parts such as bolts and casters to be purchased separately.
One of the key themes was how many parts could be 3D printed without compromising functionality.
Initially, some parts such as wheels and straps were planned to be commercially available, but after generations of prototyping and validation, the possibilities of 3D printing proved to be much wider than imagined. Ultimately, almost all parts, from the frame to the seat and straps, could be molded with PETG and TPU, requiring only small metal parts such as bolts and casters to be purchased separately.
The team conducted rigorous testing with each new version, meticulously improving durability, printability, and ease of assembly. They also provided prototypes to six families and incorporated feedback gathered over several months, further enhancing the product's completeness.
As the project progressed, the team realized that the biggest challenge was not the technology itself, but reaching the people who truly needed assistance.
For many years, there has been an "accessibility gap" in the field of assistive technology. There are makers who want to help, but they don't know the people who need assistance. On the other hand, there are people with disabilities who need assistive devices, but they don't know that they can receive support from local makers.
Financial aid was also important, but its role was greater than initially anticipated. Much of the cost of printers, filaments, and prototyping was supported by companies like Bambu Lab and CookieCAD.
For many years, there has been an "accessibility gap" in the field of assistive technology. There are makers who want to help, but they don't know the people who need assistance. On the other hand, there are people with disabilities who need assistive devices, but they don't know that they can receive support from local makers.
Financial aid was also important, but its role was greater than initially anticipated. Much of the cost of printers, filaments, and prototyping was supported by companies like Bambu Lab and CookieCAD.
| Makers Overcoming Accessibility Barriers
The culmination of the first phase of this project was its unveiling at Formnext 2025. With the support of Bambu Lab, MakeGood showcased the completed mobility aid to visitors from around the world, attracting significant attention and leading to the birth of new community-driven projects.
Many makers visiting the exhibition offered to produce similar solutions, and applications from families around the world began to pour in, wanting to use this mobility trainer for their children.
"We all risk losing our physical freedom sooner or later," says Noam Platt.
"To me, there is no fundamental difference between people with and without disabilities. We are all human beings, differing only in when we might need assistive technology. At some point in life, everyone might need such support. That's why I want to live in a world where everyone has access to well-designed, high-quality assistive technology, so that even if I lose my physical freedom in the future, I can continue doing what I love."
That's why high-quality, easy-to-use assistive devices should be accessible to everyone. The commercial market alone cannot solve this problem. But people can. Designers, engineers, architects, and makers, by contributing their time and skills, can build a more inclusive society.
"No one else is going to solve this challenge for us," Platt continues.
"The commercial market alone cannot meet these needs. For the first time in human history, design tools and manufacturing technologies are so accessible that anyone can design a product for someone in about 30 minutes and create truly life-changing assistive devices. I have done it many times. All of us, especially designers, architects, and engineers, have a responsibility to incorporate inclusive thinking into all our designs. Designing products, systems, and buildings that are easy for everyone to use will build a better future for all."
This project by MakeGood and its open-source release on MakerWorld prove that it is entirely feasible.
It shows that when technology becomes a tool not just for mass production, but for connecting people and fostering collaboration, it can change people's lives in the simplest and most direct ways.
All photos courtesy of MakeGood. All rights reserved.
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