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Pictured are a pair of completed face shields with a plastic sheet, foam forehead support and a 3D printed frame made by a printer at Snyder ISD. -
Shown is a face shield frame in the process of being printed. The masks will be made available at no cost to healthcare workers.
Snyder ISD and Western Texas College are creating face shields for rural hospitals.
Snyder ISD District STEM Director Ryan Maney said that WTC instructors Dana Fahntrapp and Patrick Schneider got the ball rolling after reaching out to healthcare providers. Snyder ISD’s STEM department had been coordinating with an Amarillo group that was also 3D printing personal protective equipment and was still looking for avenues to produce more.
“Western Texas College and Snyder ISD quickly realized how effective and efficient we would be working collaboratively,” Maney said.
Snyder ISD is currently printing the frames for face shields, which are then assembled by Fahntrapp, Schneider, Maney and Snyder ISD instructor Scott Whittenburg.
“We currently have six 3D printers producing face shield frames around the clock,” Maney said.
According to Maney, it takes about two hours to print one frame, and right now they are producing 25 to 35 frames per day.
The frames, however, are not the only material needed. Maney said that plastic sheets are used for the shield itself, foam is added for forehead support, and rubber bands complete the back of head strap.
WTC and Snyder ISD are currently purchasing the materials to complete the assembly of the masks, which only takes a few minutes once the frames are printed.
Maney said that they had printed, assembled and delivered approximately 300 face shields to healthcare facilities around the area, including Cogdell Memorial Hospital, Scurry County EMS, Stonewall Rural Clinic, Rolling Plains Hospital and Swisher County Memorial Hospital, with additional healthcare providers still on the list to receive shipments. The shields are free to the healthcare providers.
“Because the time for 3D printing frames is the limiting factor, we are looking for more volunteers,” Maney said.
Maney said that if anyone in the community has access to a 3D printer or is able to secure the remaining materials for the face shield and is interested in volunteering, he can be contacted through e-mail at rmaney@snyderisd.net, phone at 574-8711 or they can complete a volunteer form at https://forms.gle/DvgADHvT1DmABCLP9.