College utilizes 3D printers to ease PPE shortage in Kentucky
3D printers at Somerset Community College (SCC) are being utilized to produce face shields to help Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital during a supply shortage in the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19).
The printers, at the college’s Additive Manufacturing Center, run 24/7 and are producing more than 100 face shields a day.
“The 3D printing community has stepped up immediately in a very big way. Some of the things we are producing currently did not even exist just days ago,” Eric Wooldridge, an SCC professor of Additive Manufacturing, said.
The face shields are produced by Wooldridge and assembled by two other center volunteers.
Social distancing is kept in mind during production.
“We are thrilled that we can provide this important product to our local hospital to help protect their front line personnel,” Alesa Johnson, Vice President of Workforce Solutions, said. “SCC is committed to helping fight this virus in any capacity that we can.”
SCC wants to work through a grant, Rapid Response Additive Manufacturing Initiative (RRAMI) to create a network of partners to make it possible to respond on a bigger scale in the future when there is a need.
