Boise State engineering group is 3D printing face shields with help from the community

In recent weeks hospitals around the world have reported significant shortages on personal protective equipment as they help fight COVID-19.

JUST AFFECTED BYTHE VIRUS... THEY'REWORKING TO BE PARTOF THE SOLUTION.AS WE'VEREPORTED...HOSPITALS AROUNDTHE COUNTRY AREEXPERIENCINGSHORTAGES OFPERSONALPROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT.IT'S GEAR NURSESAND DOCTORS NEEDTO STAY SAFE...WHILE TREATINGPATIENTS.SIX ON YOUR SIDE'SLYNSEY AMUNDSONSHOWS US HOWLOCAL ENGINEERINGSTUDENTS... ARESTEPPING IN TOHELP.WORKING WITHGROUPS AROUNDTHE VALLEY...AMYVACHIONNE ANENGINEERINGPROFESSOR AT BOISESTATE IS 3D PRINTINGFACE SHIELDS.AMY VACCHIONE-"PREDOMINATELY WEARE WORKING TOBUILD A FACE SHIELDAND THAT IS GOINGTO HELP THEHEALTHCAREWORKERS IN THEFIELD WHEN THEYARE WORKING WITHPATIENTS.

IF THEYARE HIT WITH FLUIDSOF SOME KIND IT'SGOING TO PROTECTTHEM.

(SHEDEMONSTRATESTHEM DURING THISSOUND BITE BYPUTTING IT ON)."EACH SHIELD MASKTAKES 3 TO 4 HOURSTO MAKE AND COSTSAROUND 3 DOLLARS.BUT WITH THE HELPOF OTHERS AROUNDTHECOMMUNITY...LIKETHE ENGINEERINGDEPARTMENT ATNORTHWESTNAZARENE....THEYARE ABLE TO CREATE50 TO 60 SHIELDS ADAY.BRICE ALLEN- "ALL OFOUR STUDENTS ARENOW LEARNING IN AREMOTEENVIRONMENT, ASALMOST EVERYONEELSE, AND SO OURMACHINES WERESITTING IDLE, SO WEWANTED TO PUTTHEM TO USE ANDHELP OUT WITH WHATWAS GOING ON INTHE VALLEY."DOCTORS ANDNURSES ARE TESTINGTHE PROTOTYPESLIVE IN THE FIELDRIGHT NOW SO WHENIDAHO DOES HAVE ASHORTAGE...THESHIELDS WILL BEREADY."WE ARE TRYING TOMAKE THEM ASCLOSE TO WHATTHEY WOULD BUY ASPOSSIBLE.

THEY GIVEUS FEEDBACK ONOUR DESIGNS ANDTHEN WE CHANGETHE DESIGNS TOMEET THEIR NEEDS."ANYONE WITH A 3DPRINTER ISENCOURAGED TOHELP.

ALL YOU HAVETO DO IS SIGN UP ONTHE BOISE STATEWEBSITE AND THEYWILL SEND YOU THEPRINTING FILES ASWELL AS WHERE TODROP THE PARTS OFFAT."WE'RE HERE TO BE AHELP FOR OURCOMMUNITY AND SOBY DOING THIS, WECOULD JUST TAKETHE STUFF WEALREADY HAVE ONHAND.

WE COULDGIVE TO THECOMMUNITY HELPTHOSE PEOPLE WHOARE SHORT ONRESOURCES.LYNSEYAMUNDSON....SIX ONYOUR SIDE.