Pediatric wheelchairs are expensive — this East Texas man 3D-prints them for free

Since he became a 3D printing enthusiast, Luke Saintignan has built all kinds of gadgets, from realistic prop guns and flexible toy snakes to hoodie-shaped pencil holders and miniature dragons. “They’re really cool,” Saintignan said. “But you can only print so many of these things until you’re like, ultimately, these things are going to go in the trash.” Now, this Longview man is one of roughly 1,800 people across the country using 3D printers to make something that’s literally life-changing: wheelchairs for disabled children ages 1 to 8. Families of children with various physical disabilities — from cerebral palsy and Down syndrome to spina bifida and muscle weakness — often have to wait months to receive pediatric wheelchairs. Insurance doesn’t always cover the cost, so if the family has to pay out-of-pocket, they can expect to fork over somewhere between $2,000 and $8,000.

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