【3D Printing】MakeGood Launches Low-Cost 3D Printed Mobility Chair for Children
Design Files Released Simultaneously on MakerWorld
Design Files Released Simultaneously on MakerWorld
If you visited our booth at Formnext, you likely stepped into the dedicated space where we hosted special guests: the MakeGood non-profit organization. Based in New Orleans, USA, this organization focuses on creating unique projects for individuals with mobility challenges.
At Formnext, MakeGood officially unveiled the "3D Printed Toddler Mobility Trainer (TMT)." This low-cost, open-source mobility aid is designed to help young children with mobility difficulties improve their independence, coordination, and social development. Now, this excellent project is available on the MakerWorld platform, where anyone can download the files for free and produce it themselves using a home 3D printer.
Although it is a mobility chair, all articles require high-end equipment – a Bambu Lab P2S is sufficient! The entire project has been optimized for this 3D printer.
| A Creator Revolution: A Colorfully Vibrant Mobility Aid for Children
The TMT is released under a completely open-source model. MakeGood provides complete model files, assembly instructions, and educational materials, which can be downloaded for free through the organization's website (www.3dmobility.org) and the MakerWorld platform.
From now on, anyone with a 3D printer capable of printing PETG and TPU materials can create a fully functional aid suitable for children aged 1 to 8. In a world where specialized aids are hard to obtain and commercial products often exceed many families' budgets, this initiative is more than just a technological novelty; it is a practical tool for social change.
The complete cost to produce this device is only about $150, with almost all parts being 3D printed.
The materials required for assembly are as follows:
· Approximately 10 rolls of PETG filament (minimum 8 rolls; if parts are multi-color printed, the quantity needs to increase accordingly)
· 2 to 3 rolls of TPU filament (quantity depends on print settings and whether the seat cushion is printed)
· A small amount of hardware: 6 bolts, 2 nuts, 2 washers, 2 front-wheel casters, 1 rear-wheel caster
Printing all parts on a single 3D printer takes about a week; using multiple printers can significantly shorten the production time.
However, the TMT is not only a successful example of an open-source project but also demonstrates the growing power of the maker movement. This device has an attractive, colorful appearance and a low ground clearance, designed to ensure children can maintain eye contact with their peers.
It is specifically designed for children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or developmental delays due to premature birth and NICU stays. For many young users, this mobility trainer is the first step towards independence and sometimes a transitional stage to help them learn to walk.
This was evident at Formnext: a local German family visited with their son, Keo, who has mobility challenges and needed a TMT. He eventually took home one of the chairs — a touching moment made possible by Bambu Lab's support.
| From a Reddit Post to an Outstanding 3D Printing Innovation
MakeGood was founded and is led by Noam Platt, a certified medical architect and an expert in designing and developing new technologies for people with disabilities.
The team also includes: Philip Dunham, Senior Design Director, specializing in advanced computational design (suffered C-5 quadriplegia in a mountain biking accident in 1999); James Robert III, Senior Manufacturing Director, an innovator in custom medical devices (born with congenital limb differences); and Dr. Ashley Volion, Dr. Sergio Cuevas, Sianna Paddie, Scott Reddoch, Marty McMahon, and Brett Swensen.
Another key contributor is Schuyler Livingston, co-founder of LINK PBC and a senior industrial designer.
The origin of this "3D Printed Toddler Mobility Trainer" project can be traced back to a Reddit post — almost exactly one year before this mobility aid was launched on MakerWorld.
Despite a background in finance, Philip Dunham, who had been involved in design for many years, later joined the team; Hannah and Amber from TOM Global (an organization focused on connecting needs with creators) also became involved.
From the outset, everyone shared the same goal: to create a device that was accessible, affordable, easy to make, and as fault-tolerant as possible. This project evolved from a small experiment into a professional design and engineering process, with the team documenting hundreds of steps and analyses on a Miro board, viewing it as a roadmap for the device's evolution.
One key stage was determining how many components could be 3D printed without compromising functionality.
Initially, the team believed that some parts, such as wheels and straps, would need to be purchased separately, but after several generations of prototype testing, they discovered that the application of 3D printing far exceeded expectations. Ultimately, almost all parts – from the frame to the seat cushion and straps – could be printed using PETG and TPU materials, requiring only small metal hardware like bolts and casters to be purchased separately.
One key stage was determining how many components could be 3D printed without compromising functionality.
Initially, the team believed that some parts, such as wheels and straps, would need to be purchased separately, but after several generations of prototype testing, they discovered that the application of 3D printing far exceeded expectations. Ultimately, almost all parts – from the frame to the seat cushion and straps – could be printed using PETG and TPU materials, requiring only small metal hardware like bolts and casters to be purchased separately.
The team rigorously tested each new version of the aid, making subtle yet crucial optimizations for durability, printability, and ease of assembly. They also distributed prototypes to six families, whose feedback over several months helped the team refine every detail.
As the project progressed, the team found that the biggest challenge was not the technology itself, but reaching the people who truly needed it.
In the field of assistive technology, there has long been an "accessibility gap": creators are willing to help but don't know who needs it, and people with disabilities need aids but don't know they can obtain them from local creators.
Funding was also crucial, but it worked in unexpected ways – printer, material, and prototyping costs were primarily supported by companies like Bambu Lab and CookieCAD.
In the field of assistive technology, there has long been an "accessibility gap": creators are willing to help but don't know who needs it, and people with disabilities need aids but don't know they can obtain them from local creators.
Funding was also crucial, but it worked in unexpected ways – printer, material, and prototyping costs were primarily supported by companies like Bambu Lab and CookieCAD.
| When Creators Bridge the Gap
The climax of the first phase of this project was its unveiling at the 2025 Formnext exhibition. With the support of Bambu Lab, MakeGood showcased the finished mobility aid to a large audience, garnering significant attention and sparking a series of new community-driven projects.
Creators visiting the exhibition expressed their willingness to develop similar solutions, and families worldwide began applying for the mobility trainer for their children.
"I guarantee you that each of us, sooner or later, will face mobility challenges," said Noam Platt. "In my opinion, there is no distinction between disabled and non-disabled individuals. We are all the same people, just at different points on the timeline where assistive technology is needed. At some point in our lives, we will all need such devices. I hope to live in a world where everyone has access to well-designed, effective assistive technology, so that when I face mobility challenges in the future, I can continue to do what I love."
This is why high-quality, thoughtful assistive devices should be universally accessible. The commercial market cannot solve this problem, but people can — designers, engineers, architects, and creators can contribute their time and skills to build a more inclusive world.
"No one will do this for us," Platt further stated. "The commercial market simply won't respond to these needs. For the first time in human history, design tools and manufacturing methods have become so easy that anyone can spend 30 minutes designing something for someone else and truly create life-changing devices. I've done it many times. All of us — especially designers, architects, and engineers — have a responsibility to incorporate inclusivity into every design. When we create user-friendly products, systems, and buildings, we are actually creating a more inclusive future for everyone."
MakeGood's project and its open-source release on the MakerWorld platform demonstrate the feasibility of such initiatives.
It shows us that when technology is no longer just for mass production but becomes a tool for collaboration, it can change people's lives in the simplest and most direct way.
All photos provided by MakeGood, all rights reserved.
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