Taking a manual wheelchair and making an adaptable system that would work on most chairs out there is something I thought about for sometime. Making it cost effective and something anyone with a 3D printer and a few tools can put together in no time. Featuring Low cost parts and hardware.
Mobility is a huge issue when getting older and doing the same tasks you once did you might not be able to accomplish anymore without the aid of an assistive device like a power chair or scooter. Since I do work in the medical field where I see many people struggle with simple tasks and some with even more of a simple task not being able to accomplish this. So, Why not try to build something that can be used in multiple situations but for starters lets start with something as simple as being able to inch forward to the kitchen table or move out of the sun or turn to watch tv at a better angle. I thought creating a powered wheelchair out of a manual wheelchair would be the best thing to try to do motorizing something at a low cost that anyone can build and be able to adjust based on their needs. Now like most projects this is a proof of concept and may not hold up over the long term but making a manual chair with off the shelf parts like Arduino’s, Stepper motor controllers, and Nema17 motors. As well as many really accessible parts from a hardware store or electronics parts shop like Newark, we can start the process of prototyping things at a reasonable price and hopefully help someone in the long run come up with an idea that can be used to help others. I had an idea and so many ideas for that one I had to start building it to see where it would lead me on my learning path of what's going to work, what's not going to work and finally a product that moves and does what it should. Making a motorized wheelchair can be upgraded to fit so many people's needs whether it's a simple task or just being able to rip around the mall for a bit.
Supplemental Content
Bill of Materials
| Product Name | Manufacturer | Quantity | Buy Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stepper Motor, Single Shaft, Hybrid, 42 mm, Bipolar, 1.8 °, 49 N-cm, 1 A | TRINAMIC | 1 | Buy Now |
| 12V Battery Float Charger | PERFORMANCE TOOLS | 1 | Buy Now |
| Fuseholder, Automotive, In-Line, ATO, 30A | MULTICOMP PRO | 1 | Buy Now |
| Rechargeable Battery, 12 V, Lead Acid, 7 Ah, Quick Connect | ENERSYS | 1 | Buy Now |
| XLR Connector, 3 Contacts, Jack, Cable Mount, Silver Plated Contacts, Metal Body, XX Series | NEUTRIK | 1 | Buy Now |
| Slide Switch, SPST, Off-On, Panel Mount, R13, 16 A, 125 V | MULTICOMP PRO | 1 | Buy Now |
| Rotary Potentiometer, Rotary Switch, 10 kohm, 1 Turns, Linear, 200 mW, ± 20%, P162 Series | TT ELECTRONICS / BI TECHNOLOGIES | 1 | Buy Now |
| XLR Connector, 3 Contacts, Plug, Cable Mount, Gold Plated Contacts, Metal Body, DL Series | NEUTRIK | 1 | Buy Now |
| Arduino Uno | ARDUINO | 1 | Buy Now |
| Joystick, 2, 5 A, 250 V, 4 Position | APEM | 1 | Buy Now |
Additional Parts
| 2 x Generic L298n motor controllers |
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