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One LU student with an LU 3-D printer is tackling the PPE shortage.

More than a month ago, as the coronavirus pandemic was beginning to spread across the U.S., Ian Kennard, a mechanical engineering major at LU, learned that healthcare workers were in need of PPE. He contacted Kelley Bradley, director of LU’s Science and Technology Building’s maker-space and suggested the maker-space 3-D printer be used to help.

Bradley had been looking forward to working with Kennard on another project, not printing PPE.  The two were part of a collaborative effort to launch a Reaud Honors College BattleBots team. Kennard, a veteran in robotics from high school, sent Bradley a presentation for his review on the basics of robotics detailing motors and control systems. The presentation also suggested that the maker-space 3-D printer be put to use making face shield frames.

 “I’m always excited when students come to me with cool projects for the maker space, especially when they have a real-world benefit,” said Bradley. “Before any stay-at-home orders were issued, Ian was able to run to Houston to purchase some specialized 3-D printer filament and then he got started right away before campus closed, printing the face shield frames.”

Kennard began making frames needed to fit shields on as protective masks and shipping them to a nonprofit organization, Masks for Docs.

“We can’t print gloves, respirators or facemasks,” said Kennard. “But what we can print is face shields, so we make a headband that grips around the top of your head and holds the clear shield on the face.”

Kennard manufactured 25 of the frames before LU announced closure and a transition to alternative instruction methods or online education. Kennard decided to move home to Houston and requested to take the 3-D printer with him to continue production for the cause.
 
“I jokingly asked Dr. Bradley how much persuasion would it take to take the 3-D printer home,” said Kennard. “I was surprised when I got a positive response.”

When Bradley got the request from Kennard he contacted Assistant Provost Paul Bernazzani, who is also director of the Science & Technology Building, to run the idea by him.

“We both thought it was a wonderful idea since nobody else would be using it during the shutdown,” said Bradley. “We did talk about the risk of loaning the printer, but we felt that it was the right thing to do.  We want to support students working on important projects any way we can, and in these unprecedented times we have to be a bit unconventional.”

The Science & Technology Building 3-D printer is running 24/7 at Kennard’s home in Houston. Every day, Kennard produces twenty face shield frames.  He has bought more filament and ordered even more. He is hopeful that delays in shipping won’t hinder his production.

“It feels a little bit hopeless because all the average person can do is stay home, which is very important, but doing something to help while staying home feels meaningful to me, and it keeps me entertained.”