News and Stories | Make:able Challenge

Printlab Autodesk

Collage image of a person chopping vegetables with a 3D printed assistive arm aid, and another person using a 3D printed tactile braille keyboard.

The 2026 Make:able Challenge from PrintLab and Autodesk launches! See what's new this year and get involved to design life improving devices for people with disabilities. PrintLab and Autodesk Launch the 2026 Make:able Challenge 31st October 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

A grid of website screens showing various mini courses from PrintLab's 3D printing learning platform.

PrintLab is our online platform of 3D printing courses and projects, which can help you build new skills in preparation for your Make:able journey. Start a free trial today! Preparing for Make:able with PrintLab 30th October 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

A computer screen showing a mechanical design in Autodesk Fusion.

Are you a teacher supporting students through Make:able? Learn Fusion CAD skills in just 12 hours with Autodesk's free virtual training for educators. Free Autodesk Fusion Training for Educators 30th October 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

A girl with visual impairment holds the 3D-printed Touch Type braille keyboard, a compact tactile device designed to support accessible typing and communication.

Team 7 created Touch Type, a 3D-printed, 12-key braille keyboard designed to give a visually impaired user an affordable, customisable, and open-source alternative to commercial devices. Tactile Braille Keyboard 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A digital render of a colourful, 3D-printed bear-shaped device featuring built-in speakers and controls, designed to help children practise clear speech through interactive feedback.

Team TALKABOO designed a colourful, 3D-printed bear that uses AI and built-in audio components to transform unclear speech into clear pronunciation, making speech practice engaging and confidence-building for children with speech sound disorders. Interactive Speech Training Device 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A man with wrist arthritis plays an electric guitar using a 3D-printed strumming aid attached to his hand for support and comfort.

Team Tune Aid created a 3D-printed strumming aid that attaches to the hand with adjustable straps, enabling a guitarist with wrist arthritis to play comfortably without wrist or finger movement. Guitar Strumming Aid 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A person with visual impairment runs their fingers over a raised tactile map designed to help visitors navigate the La Nube STEAM Discovery Center.

Team Lucky Seven developed tactile maps and a cloud-shaped lanyard case to help visually impaired visitors safely navigate the La Nube STEAM Discovery Center in El Paso, Texas. Museum Tactile Map 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A young girl with hemiplegia smiles as she uses a rail-guided writing aid that supports her hand and helps her move a pen smoothly across the page.

Team Hope Builder created an adaptive writing aid with a stabilising pen holder and smooth linear rail system to help a 10-year-old with hemiplegia write more easily and confidently at school. Motion Rail Writing Aid 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A young man with cerebral palsy and blindness sits in the passenger seat of a go-kart, holding a tactile steering wheel designed to let him experience the feeling of driving.

Team Michael adapted a go-kart with safety netting and a tactile steering wheel to give a young man with cerebral palsy and blindness the thrill of outdoor driving in a safe, inclusive, and engaging way. Immersive Go-Kart Experience 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A person using a smart cane to navigate the outdoors.

Team VIVID created a smart cane for a blind user that combines obstacle detection with vibration feedback and built-in emergency alerts to enhance safety, confidence, and independence. Smart Cane 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A teacher playing the trombone using a 3D printed support stand.

GripTrom is a 3D-printed, hands-free trombone support device that enables musicians with arthritis to play comfortably by mounting the instrument securely to a cymbal stand for pain-free performance. Trombone Support Stand 14th October 2025 • Submissions

Flat lay image of a 3D printed bracelet maker station.

The Tie It Up Station enables a young entrepreneur with limited hand mobility to independently tie knots for her handmade bracelet business. Bracelet Maker Station 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A mother with partial arm loss using a 3D printed arm device to chop vegetables on a table.

Team Creovate designed a lightweight, multi-functional assistive device for Karima, a mother with partial arm loss, to support her in daily tasks like brushing her daughter Jouri’s hair and preparing meals. Modular Assistive Arm Device 14th October 2025 • Submissions

Rendered image of a 3D printable tactile art board with a house and tree design.

KIBO is a 3D-printed art board designed to make creative expression more accessible for visually impaired children. Tactile Art Board 14th October 2025 • Submissions

A collage of the 18 winners of the 2025 Make:able Challenge.

Discover the winners of the 2025 Make:able Challenge—featuring 3D printed assistive devices designed by students and makers worldwide. Meet the 2025 Make:able Winners 1st July 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

A digital render showing 3 finalist submissions to the 2025 Make:able Challenge.

Discover the 2025 finalists of the Make:able Challenge—an international competition where students use 3D printing and design to create innovative assistive technology solutions. Make:able 2025 Finalists 1st June 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

Introducing the 2025 Make:able Challenge judging panel, featuring experts from Autodesk, Microsoft, Prusa Research, MatterHackers and more. Introducing the Make:able 2025 Judging Panel 2nd May 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

Collage of images showing Make:able Challenge prizes.

The prize lineup for the 2025 Make:able Challenge has arrived! Discover what’s up for grabs this year—including 3D printers, scanners, and more. 2025 Make:able Challenge Prize Announcement 4th April 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

PrintLab Co-Founder, Jason Yeung, sat at a desk with a microphone. The title 'Assistive Technology Design' overlaid in white text.

In this video, we share our top tips for designing impactful and effective 3D printed assistive technology. 13 Tips for Designing 3D Printed Assistive Technology 13th January 2025 • News (PrintLab Blog)

A 3d printed dexterity game called Pinchee, on a table. The game involves stacking twigs on top of an elephant, using birds as the carrying tools.

Say hello to Pinchee - a fully 3D-printable, 2-player dexterity game where players pinch their bird to stack twigs on a cheerful elephant. Download and 3D print yours for free! Pinchee – A 3D Printed Game That Blends Fun and Hand Therapy 16th December 2024 • Devices

A person using a 3D printed assistive device to carry a pan. The device makes use of a wrist flex mechanism to grip the pan handle.

PrintLab and Autodesk welcome you to the 2025 Make:able 3D Printing and Assistive Technology Challenge for students and makers. Check out this year's updates. PrintLab and Autodesk Launch the 2025 Make:able Challenge 1st November 2024 • News (PrintLab Blog)

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