Cool story and it looks like a really good design. Probably, just need to add the clear plastic from a two liter bottle.
Southbury teacher prints frames for face shields in 3D
SOUTHBURY – Greg Kunz, a technology education teacher at Rochambeau Middle School, made sure to bring home one of his 3D printers the day Region 15 School District closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kunz wanted to learn the features on a printer that he won in a December raffle. But then he received an email from Jeromy Nelson, director of arts for the district, stating Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury was looking for people with 3D printers to create and donate face shields. Kunz jumped aboard.
“I had been sitting around for the last couple days thinking of anything I could do to help out or volunteer and that’s when the email came through,” Kunz said. “It’s nice to make some kind of contribution.”
Kunz used ultrahigh resolution to print his first frame, but it took 11 hours. Now, he’s using regular resolution and creating three or four frames a day. With a high demand on face shields, Kunz said he’s had a hard time finding materials online to make completed shields.
Jill Johnson, principal at Explorations Charter School in Winsted, said she also became aware that Saint Mary’s needed face shield donations, so David Nichols, information technology consultant for the school, brought home its 3D printers to print frames 24/7.
Johnson said the school is printing frames for Waterbury Hospital, too.
“We’re going to print them for anybody who needs them,” Johnson said.
Northwest Community Bank is funding Explorations’ efforts, Johnson said. A roll of filament that Saint Mary’s is looking for in their shields costs $25, while filament for Waterbury Hospital is smaller in scope, she said.
“I told the bank that if this winds up taking off and we have a lot of other hospitals reach out, I’d do crowdfunding through a GoFundMe or Facebook fundraiser to raise whatever money that we need to keep this going,” Johnson said,
As Region 15 continues adapting to distance learning, Kunz wants there to be a regionwide effort to help health care workers and first responders.
“You can use whatever skills, time, or resources you have to help out in some way,” Kunz said. “It doesn’t have to be just this, it could be other things, too.”
Contributed/Greg KunzGreg Kunz, technology education teacher at Rochambeau Middle School in Southbury, has been 3D printing face shields for Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury.
“I’m excited that this is happening,” Johnson said, “but the one thing that I’m disappointed in is that the students can’t be a part of this. My hope is that maybe we could find, once we’re all back to school, other things we could print to give back to the community.”
