Thanks to a teacher and his 3-D printing machine, an injured duck has a second shot at life.
Sari Soffer reports on the technology that could the duck get its waddle back.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
TUCKED IN THE CORNER OF MR. JISCHKE'S (JIS-KEE) CLASSROOM --
IS ONE OF THE COOLEST GADGETS AT SOUTH PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL.
(Jason Jischke) "It's 3D modeling software so you can actually manipulate it on the screen."
BUT WE'LL GET BACK TO MR. JISCHKE AND HIS 3-D PRINTER LATER.
FIRST, MEET PHILLIP.
(Vicki Rabe-Harrison, Pickett) "There was a girl that had to move out of her home that had goats and chickens and ducks and all sort of critters. And there was a picture of phillip with his feet all curled up and dried because they had frozen."
INSTINCTIVELY -- VICKI TOOK PHILLIP IN.
AFTER WATCHING A VIDEO ONLINE -- VICKI REACHED OUT TO MR. JISCHKE -- TO SEE IF HIS 3D PRINTER COULD *MAKE PHILLIP THE FEET HE'D LOST.
(Jason Jischke, Teacher) "The initial email I thought...is this for real?"
(Vicki Rabe-Harrison, Pickett) "We literally were an hour away from putting him down when I got the call from Jason."
(Jason Jischke, Teacher) "I immediately called Vicki from class and I said 'Vicki, I'm making the feet right now, hold off hold off!'
(Vicki Rabe-Harrison, Pickett) "We both cried"
(Sari Soffer, Reporting) "It's been six weeks of trial and error, and much like another fairy tale, this one was too small...this one, too hard...but this, they're hoping it's just right."
(Jason Jischke, Teacher) "We are now using what's called Ninja Flex. And ninja flex is a flexible material."
THE NEW, GRACIOUSLY-DONATED MATERIAL TAKES ABOUT 36 HOURS TO PRINT BOTH FEET
-- WHICH HAVE BEEN FITTED TO SLIP ONTO PHILLIPS LEGS.
TOMORROW, PHILLIP WILL TRY THEM ON.
(Vicki Rabe-Harrison, Pickett) "That he lives with a bunch of ducks and is happy and can run outside and can swim."
SOON, PHILLIP IS HEADED TO AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY TO DO JUST THAT.
(Jason Jischke, Teacher) "Phillip and I have become pretty good friends and it's going to be sad to see him go."
A BITTERSWEET ENDING TO A FRIENDSHIP, THAT GIVES PHILLIP THE FOOTING FOR A FRESH START
Instructional Links
Magazine Article: Scholastic Math, Printing in 3-D, January 13, 2014
May Need Password
Website: YouTube, What Is 3D Printing and How Does It Work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vx0Z6LplaMU
Website Article: Easy Science for Kids, Ducks – The Adorable and Friendly Birds