A University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) engineering student has used 3-D printing to build a mobility chair for a 2-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, giving her more freedom to move independently.
Austin McDade, a rising junior who works in UTC’s Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab, spent the summer printing and assembling the bright pink chair for Amelia Aiken.
Rather than designing the chair from scratch, McDade used open-source files for a Toddler Mobility Trainer project from 3D-Mobility. He prepared the digital STL files using slicing software, where settings such as wall thickness and infill density could be adjusted before printing.
McDade chose ABS plastic for its strength and heat resistance, while pink thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU, was used to give the wheels grip. Some of the larger components took between 8 and 18 hours each to print.
Once printed, the pieces were assembled using interlocking dovetailed connections, with glue and plastic welding used to reinforce other sections. The finished chair is manual, allowing Amelia to move herself by pushing its wheels, and is intended for indoor use with adult supervision.
The project shows how 3-D printing can make assistive technology easier to customise, giving people equipment that better suits their individual needs.
McDade completed the project while working as an undergraduate researcher with Erkan Kaplanoglu, head of UTC’s Department of Engineering Management and Technology and director of the Biomechatronic and Assistive Technology Lab. The hours McDade spent printing and building Amelia’s chair were voluntary.
“To see her roll across the floor and have her smile on her face,” McDade said, “that was very gratifying, and that made it all worthwhile.”
For Amelia’s mother, Kyndal Aiken, the chair means her daughter has more freedom to decide where she wants to go rather than relying on her parents to move her.
“It opens up curiosity for her,” Aiken said. “It brings her so much joy to see that she’s making the decision.”
The family hopes the chair will give Amelia more independence as she approaches preschool, including being able to move through hallways and take part in activities alongside other children.
The project has also inspired the Aiken family to purchase their own 3-D printer. They are now learning how to use the technology and hope to eventually print mobility chairs for other families in their community.
To find out more about the project, read UTC’s article on the 3-D printed mobility chair.