Disabled Puppy ‘TurboRoo’ Becomes a Big Fan of 3D Printing Thanks to His New Cart

Cart printing on a Makerbot 3D Printer

Over the course of the past year, we have seen on numerous occasions, instances where disabled individuals have benefited quite significantly from the recent popularity of 3D printing. Groups like e-NABLE have provided dozens upon dozens of 3D printed prosthetic hands and arms to children who have been born with birth defects. We have even seen a penguin and a duck benefit from this incredible technology.  The penguin received a 3D printed prosthetic beak, which ended up saving his life, and the duck, a prosthetic leg.

Today, we get news of yet another amazing story, but this time, it involves a Chihuahua named TurboRoo. TurboRoo was born with a birth defect that has caused his front two legs not to grow. He basically will have little stubs in place of his front legs for the rest of his life.

3D Model of the cart

A breeder ended up dropping TurboRoo off at a veterinarian’s office last month, where the employees there fell head-over-heels for the little puppy.  One of the technicians, Ashely Looper ended up adopting TurboRoo permanently. They had tried their best to create a cart for the puppy, with the help of others, in order to aid in his walking, but the cart that they came up with just wasn’t quite up to par.

In came a mechanical engineer named Mark Deadrick, president of a company called 3dyn. With over 20 years of experience in the Automotive and Aerospace Industries, he decided to help create a more sophisticated device for little TurboRoo to get around in.

Since Deadrick is located in San Diego, and TurboRoo in Indianapolis, he could not take a custom scan of the puppy, and ended up having to take thumbnail measurements from photos that he was provided. He used 3D modeling software to design a cart and then printed out the prototype on a MakerBot Replicator 3D printer, in approximately 4 hours. He then threw on some skateboard wheels and shipped the cart off to Indianapolis where the little Chihuahua was awaiting its arrival.

So far Deadrick has 3D printed three different versions, making small changes to each one and improving upon the design. The second cart ended up being too small, and the third one is currently on its way to the puppy. TurboRoo is still getting used to the cart, but he is having a much easier time getting around, and he seems to be quite content. Whether or not Deadrick ends up making future carts for the little dog is not known as of yet, but he certainly will need a revised version as he grows larger.

What do you think about this incredible story? Discuss in the 3D Printed Dog Cart forum thread on 3DPB.com