Lansing High School Voltron Robotics Team 7064 prints parts for use by COVID-19 frontline workers
The Lansing High School Robotics Team and Science Department have been working hard over the past several weeks utilizing their 3D printing resources to make parts for face shields to be used by COVID-19 front line workers.
Lansing senior, Liam Neidig, and junior, Anthony Krebs, as well as science teachers Dr. Anne Krebs and Mr. Jeff DaMetz, have been printing frames that will be joined to clear plastic shields for use in the Kansas City community.
"We had brought home the 3D Printers from the Robotics team since we weren't able to access the school building anytime soon," said Anthony Krebs. "Liam (Neidig) texted me one day and asked me to help print parts for face shields, which help protect from foreign bacteria and diseases."
Dr. Krebs said the idea started through the Lansing High School Robotics Team. "Many robotics teams own 3D printers that are typically used to make parts during the build season. Given the shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment), teams began using those printers to fill the void. Our team, along with many others including FRC STING-R 5098, found a program started by another Kansas City area robotics team to utilize printed parts. The KC Astromechs 3409 published the designs, and we started printing face shield parts with our machines. Mr. Jeff DaMetz joined the efforts with the 3D printer he had available."
Liam Neidig noted the importance of combining resources in this unique and challenging time. "The maker movement has always been a force for progress and positive change in our world. Fusion deposition manufacturing (3D printing) is not typically used for mass production; however, the community has spent a great deal of effort on making new advancements in machine utilization and configuration, so we can help cover the shortage of PPE. We see once again that necessity is the mother of innovation."
The face shield parts are being donated to the KC PPE (Kansas City Personal Protective Equipment) Project on Facebook. Their community service Facebook page was created "to find maker projects related to the medical personal protective equipment shortage." (https://www.facebook.com/pg/KCPPEProject/about/?ref=page_internal)
Anthony said they got started on printing as soon as they got the designs. "I have two printers at my house and was able to use one for smaller parts and the other for the very biggest one. Smaller parts take about 45 minutes to print and the large one takes approximately six hours. I ran into some difficulties with the bigger one, but thankfully I had Liam there with his own printer to do that. Altogether we got around 50 of each part before shipping off that batch. We'll continue to print and ship more parts while they are needed."
Dr. Krebs, the LHS Robotics Team Sponsor, science teacher, and Anthony's mother, said the shields were approved for use in the University of Kansas Medical System and were being distributed to that facility and other organizations in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
"Parts for 48 face shields were passed forward to the assembly point Tuesday, April 14th," Dr. Krebs said. "The 3D printers continue to run, making more parts to fulfill additional needs."
Anthony and Liam have utilized Zoom to meet and troubleshoot printers and other details to get machines running.
"It really makes you feel like you are accomplishing something, and it makes you feel like you're helping others in need," Anthony said.