UA Making Protective Gear for Frontline Workers

The Arizona Daily Star recently reported on the efforts of several University of Arizona researchers to 3D-print face shields for frontline workers during COVID-19. 

The article reports: 

Kasi Kiehlbaugh, director of the UA’s Health Sciences Design program, formed AZ Makers Fighting COVID-19, an online group that is coordinating efforts to make face shields and other protective equipment.

Kiehlbaugh said the group started as a resource-sharing group among various UA “maker spaces” — which typically include 3D printers and other rapid-prototyping tools — but as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged it evolved into a community-wide effort including local businesses and individuals. The online group has more than 100 members with about 20 active participants, she said.

“This whole thing has been pretty scary for people and its hard to feel so helpless, so the comments I get are that it’s nice to do something to make a difference,” said Kiehlbaugh, who is a UA vice president in the College of Engineering’s biomedical engineering department.

Since 3D printing is such a time-consuming process, the UA is focusing on making laser-cut face shields, which can be made in about a minute, Kiehlbaugh said.