NC State Uses 3D Printers to Make Face Shields for WakeMed
NC State’s Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics is putting 3D printers to work to create face shields for health care professionals.
North Carolina State University remains committed to assisting the health care workers who are on the front lines fighting COVID-19. NC State’s Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics (CAMAL) is using 3D printers to create face shields.
The lab is currently producing, on average, 200 face shields each day for health care workers at WakeMed. The face shields are delivered through WakeMed’s shipping and handling department in keeping with proper social distancing measures. As of April 6, WakeMed had received approximately 525 face shields from NC State’s 3D printing efforts.
Matthew White, an NC State integrated manufacturing systems engineering graduate research assistant leading the project, says production is underway 24 hours a day, with four 6-hour shifts. Each set of shields and frames can be used multiple times with the proper sanitation.
“We continue to be amazed by the incredible support from our community,” says Diana Rhyne, executive director for WakeMed Innovations. “NC State and the College of Engineering represent an extraordinary force of innovation and compassion. We are appreciative and inspired by their ability to pivot and shift resources to accelerate the production of critical PPE and support health care professionals in the fight against COVID-19.”
We continue to be amazed by the incredible support from our community.
CAMAL is also facilitating donations of face shields and other personal protective equipment through a volunteer network. All pieces of equipment are logged and each item undergoes a 72-hour quarantine process to ensure its sanitation.
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For more information on NC State’s 3D printed face shields, please contact Lauren Barker at lauren_barker@ncsu.edu or the project lead, Matthew White, at matt_white@ncsu.edu.
Kristin Kelly, senior marketing and communications specialist at WakeMed, is also happy to speak to the media. She can be contacted at krkelly@wakemed.org.
