While the engineering classes that normally fill the Tabor Academy MakerLab have all moved online, the building is still humming with activity. Since mid-March, the space has been taken over by the manufacture of face shields for donation to those who need personal protective equipment (PPE).
With news of a national shortage of PPE in the headlines, faculty members Karl and Susan Kistler knew that they had tools and the know-how to help. They soon began producing a design approved by the National Institutes of Health that involves both 3D-printed and laser-cut components. They have organized quite a production. In all, volunteers at Tabor have made over 80 completed masks and hundreds of components that will be joined with those from other makerspaces in New England.
When everything is working, 12 3D printers on campus contribute to this effort.
MakerLab coordinator Dr. Karl Kistler notes: “We’re lucky. Just before spring break, the Girls Advancing in STEM (GAINS) Club had just finished assembling two new printers for donation to Our Sisters’ School in New Bedford. The club members had been working hard to assemble the two 3D printers and organize a time to travel to OSS to present the new printers to the middle school girls and show them how they work. Since the OSS campus is also closed, we’ve decided to press the two printers into service until they can be donated. In addition, the Marion and Mattapoisett town libraries have loaned us their machines.”
A few others on campus have contributed to the PPE effort. A science teacher has set up four of the 3D printers in his dormitory common room and is running production there. Two other faculty families worked in their homes to attach a headband to each finished visor with rubber bands and zip-ties in order to keep the face shield in place. Another teacher will deliver mask components not used locally to a partner makerspace in Brookline for final preparation and distribution to Boston area hospitals. Dr. Kistler said, “As soon as we told the campus what we were doing, people came forward asking how to help.”
Susan Kistler has been handling logistics: “We’ve coordinated with the local Department of Health and have produced masks for the Police and Fire departments in Marion and (for) Wareham Pediatrics, as well as for people who are part of our campus community who have a need for the protective equipment. I’m also active with the Massachusetts chapter of Masks for Docs so our overflow goes into their stream for distribution outside our community.”
Kerry Saltonstall, Director of Communication said, “The Tabor community is so proud of the Kistlers for organizing such an effort across campus in support of our first responders. Our only disappointment is that our students could not be here to help coordinate the effort and run the production schedule, because this kind of responsive, creative service leadership is right up their alley!”
Here is a link to the design Tabor is making, should you want to get in on the action from home: https://3dprint.nih.gov/discover/3dpx-013359. Also, here is Susan Kistler’s email should you want to coordinate distribution of your shields through Tabor’s effort: skistler@taboracademy.org.