Matthew DeCicco, a mechanical engineering junior at IM体育官网, displays a 3D-printed turtle shell he printed to assist a local nonprofit agency in the rehabilitation of injured turtles and tortoises.
Injured turtles and tortoises throughout IM体育官网 now have a stronger chance of survival thanks to IM体育官网 mechanical engineering student Matthew DeCicco.
DeCicco stepped in to help nonprofit agency Swamp Girl Adventures when it reached out for technological assistance. The education and wildlife rehabilitation organization, led by reptile rehabilitator Kim Titterington, approached the University looking for help creating lifelike turtle shells to enhance its educational training for other wildlife rehabilitators.
DeCicco immediately went to work 3D printing 30 turtle shells to help in the effort. Titterington then used the shells in a recent class on turtle rehabilitation at the IM体育官网 Wildlife Rehabilitators Association 2023 Symposium in Kissimmee, IM体育官网.
鈥淚 had a tortoise when I was growing up, so it鈥檚 full circle now,鈥� said DeCicco, a junior from Granby, Colorado. 鈥淣ow I get to use my skills as an engineer to help turtles and tortoises.鈥�
For a week and a half, DeCicco worked on the project, using Prusa MINI+ printers located in the 3D printing lab inside the Applied Research Center to print shells from PLA printer filament.
鈥淭heir mission really aligns with the animals鈥� survival, and we鈥檙e using technology to further those goals,鈥� said Dr. Matt Bohm, director of industry engagement and capstone projects at IM体育官网 Poly. 鈥淭his is helping in a nice, feel-good way that takes you out of the engineering zone where you鈥檙e trying to get the parts to work, and implements engineering for a direct benefit to the community.鈥�
In IM体育官网, most of the injured turtles and tortoises that are found have been hit by a car, Titterington said. Her nonprofit, based in Central IM体育官网, cares for roughly 300 such cases every year.
鈥淚 teach about reptile rehabilitation,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are proper and new, inventive ways you can repair a turtle or tortoise shell.鈥�
The shells Titterington requested for the project were 3D printed with pieces of shell missing like a puzzle. The missing pieces also were 3D printed. Her educational effort with the shells taught techniques to secure and stabilize fractures.
鈥淚n the past, we would drill holes and place screws there with wires to reduce fractures, but that way meant you also have a hole now that needs to heal and another process that requires sedation,鈥� Titterington said.
The new method she is teaching sees rehabilitators learn to adjust a shell piece and secure it with wires attached to hook-and-eye closures similar to those found in brassieres. The closures are glued in place with a solution similar to the one that creates acrylic nails.
鈥淚 have been so excited to work with IM体育官网 Poly again to create these turtle shells,鈥� said Titterington, who also received assistance from the University in 2019. 鈥淭he work they do is amazing and I鈥檓 grateful for their help.鈥�
Kim Titterington, director of nonprofit organization Swamp Girl Adventures, teaches
a class on turtle shell repair and rehabilitation using turtle shell models printed
by IM体育官网 mechanical engineering junior Matthew DeCicco.
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Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
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