Buttercup the Duck Gets Brand New 3D Printed Foot
Remember Buttercup the duck? Buttercup was the duck who was born with a birth defect which lead to the amputation of his left leg last year. Back in June the fine folks at Feathered Angels Waterfowl Sanctuary, ended up 
using a 3D printer to print out a mold which was used to create a prosthetic foot for Buttercup to comfortably walk on.
The foot works great, but over time it can begin to wear out and either break or become uncomfortable for Buttercup to use any longer. This means they needed to create a new foot, but the method they were using, 3D printing a mold and then creating a prosthetic from that mold, was very time consuming, and not as comfortable a fit for Buttercup, as it could have been. The Feathered Angels Waterfowl Sanctuary, decided that if they were to continue printing out feet for Buttecup, and other ducks suffering similar ailments, they would need to figure out a way to 3D print the actual foot, instead of just a mold.
The team turned to donations so that they could purchase a 3D printer and begin their journey to upgrade Buttercup’s foot to a purely 3D printed prosthetic. In exchange for small donations, the Feathered Angels Waterfowl Sanctuary gave away cute little 3D printed shaped key chains. New flex filaments were now available, which meant that the 3D printer could spit out a very comfortable, well fitting prosthetic. Soon they were able to raise adequate funding, and proceed with their plan.
The caregiver for the now famous duck, Mike Garey, worked on several different model variations of the foot, prior to finding the perfect fit. He 3D printed the foot, and now Buttercup has a brand new limb to walk on. The new design has a movable ankle, support springs, new sock retainer, and even tread on the bottom for extra gripping power. Buttercup is not the first duck to have a purely 3D printed prosthetic foot. Dudley the duck, earlier this month also received one, which was printed from a different custom design. Discuss this story of Buttercup’s Prosthetic, and check out the video of Buttercup modeling his latest foot:
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
Tesla Veteran Kevin Kassekert Takes the Helm as VulcanForms’ New CEO
In a major leadership shift, VulcanForms has appointed Kevin Kassekert as its new CEO and Jay Martin as President. This change comes at a crucial time as the company moves...
Boston’s Additive Edge: BMF’s Precision on a Microscopic Scale
In the quest for ever-smaller and more precise technologies, Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) seeks to pioneer the next wave of micro-precision in 3D printing, an area critical to fields ranging...
Boston’s Additive Edge: Inkbit’s Vision of Redefining 3D Printing with Material Innovation
At the heart of Inkbit’s innovation is a 3D printer that does more than print—it learns and perfects, creating intricate multi-material parts in a single, streamlined process. This vision-controlled technology,...
3D Tech Helps Abu Dhabi Doctors Tackle Rare Heart Case
Surgeons in Abu Dhabi turned to 3D printing to tackle a rare heart defect so unusual that it’s found in just 0.03% of people—saving a life in the process. Mian...
