Farragut STEM teacher uses 3D printer to help medical personnel against COVID-19

SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. - April 2, 2020 - PRLog -- As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to expand globally, the supply chain for masks and face shields continues to be stressed. Lower School STEM Teacher Shannon LoRusso quickly found a way to help by using a 3D printer to print masks and face shields for hospital use. Before Admiral Farragut Academy closed, she took the 3D printer from the Lower School STEM Lab home and the school provided her materials including numerous rolls of PLA filament.

"My cousin is a nurse who just moved to Port Charlotte, Florida, and is super excited about receiving these and hopefully she will be allowed to use them," LoRusso said. "The hospital she works at is low on masks and the hospital in Pennsylvania she worked for before she moved was directing the nurses to use a bandana."

Making Montana Masks

Through research, LoRusso found a website called www.makethemasks.com that was making 3D printed Montana masks for hospital staff. The Montana Mask is a high-efficiency filtration mask. Available for free public use, the software comes with design files to create a 3D printable mask. LoRusso is making the masks from PLA filament, one of the recommended materials. The key benefit is that the mask itself can be sanitized and reused. Once hospitals receive the 3D printed pieces, they can conserve resources by using 2.5" squares cut from n95 surgical masks; one will yield six filters with surgical protection and will yield a greater filtration depending on the fit. Although not approved by the FDA or NIOSH, the mask has been rigorously tested and the level of protection is customizable, depending on which material you use for the filter.

Making Face Shields

LoRusso has also found a way to make face shields through www.budmen.com. The shields consist of a visor made by LoRusso of PLA filament, and a clear replaceable polythene shield that the hospital or recipient would provide.

She, along with her daughter, 8th-grader Julia, are able to get about 2-3 masks done a day. It takes over 4 hours just to get one set done. LoRusso has had several people ask her for them. "I'd rather get them out there now instead of waiting until I have a specific amount," LoRusso said.

"When my mom and her cousin started talking about the lack of protective equipment it made me curious about how I can help," Julia said. "My mom showed me the website about making masks for the hospitals and I thought it was a great idea!"

"This is all very experimental on whether hospitals will allow them to use it," LoRusso said, "but we wanted to do whatever we could to help and we remain hopeful."