3D technology is changing the way we look at the world -- from helping animals like Phillip the duck... to helping people who need prosthetic limbs.
For more, we travel to a Wisconsin high school and meet some students who volunteer to work with the technology in their free time, all for a good cause.
"This idea of here's something new now let's run with it."
BUT IT MORPHED INTO A LESSON ON GIVING BACK.
"From there we kind of thought how can we use this to actually help people not just use it for our uses in the classroom."
SCIENCE TEACHER PETER GRAVEN TAPPED INTO CROWD SOURCING AND GRANTS TO PURCHASE 3D PRINTERS FOR HIS STUDENTS AT DEER CREEK INTERMEDIATE IN ST. FRANCIS.
"We actually layer the 3D printing so that we can make a design of different colors."
THE STUDENTS ARE NOW TAKING THAT TECHNOLOGY AND QUITE LITERALLY USING IT TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.
"We got involved with a program called enabling the future which helps us match with clients you could say who need hands 3D printed that are low cost well for us nothing because we send them out."
GRAVEN SAYS STUDENTS TEAM UP WITH A 3D GAME DESIGNER TO CREATE THE HAND MODELS....
"We ask them you know what do you like what are your favorite colors so that we can make a hand that's like specifically designed for them."
THE STUDENTS DO ALL THE WORK ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS DURING LUNCH HOUR AND RECESS.
AFTER THE PLASTIC PARTS ARE PRINTED, THEY ASSEMBLE THEM INTO A WORKING PROSTHETIC HAND, WHICH THEY THEN SHIP TO A PERSON WHO NEEDS IT.
"I think it's pretty amazing just being able to help people and just not only be able to learn along the way but be able to help people while we're learning."
Instructional Links
Encyclopedia Article & Diagram: Encyclopedia Britannica for Kids, Below Elbow Protheses
Website Article & Video: Energy.gov, How 3D Printers Work
http://www.energy.gov/articles/how-3d-printers-work
Magazine Article: Scholastic Math, Printing in 3-D, January 13, 2014
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