BVT staff use school’s 3D printers to craft medical supplies
During this global COVID-19 pandemic, local hospitals are experiencing a shortage of supplies and have expressed concerns about running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) when the virus peaks in Massachusetts. The Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District, in partnership with other technical high schools, are answering the call to aid with the shortage of medical supplies in their communities. In addition to their substantial donation of PPE to Milford Regional Medical Center in March, the District continues to respond to the shortage actively.
BVT staff members are hard at work, but not in the way that you might expect. “With a long-standing reputation for completing cost-effective trade learning linked community service projects within its thirteen municipalities, BVT is eager to help and respond,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick. “This time, it is with our grant acquired 3D printers.”
After the District received requests to manufacture face shields, administration and staff planned and coordinated how to utilize their sophisticated inventory of 3D printers. A total of 12 printers were safely collected and relocated by staff members who practiced required social distancing through a spaced process, entered the school at their scheduled time slot, to avoid interaction with each other. They accessed their shop laboratories and transitioned the equipment to their home-based workspace. This synchronized arrangement enabled personnel to honor the preferred working conditions advised during the coronavirus pandemic and put the very skills that they teach their students, to work for the community hospitals.
Volunteering to run the sophisticated 3D printers is Drafting & Design Technology Instructors, James Aukstikalnis, and Timothy Oliveira with Engineering & Robotics Instructor, Brian Rhodes, and Dr. Matthew Connors, Vocational Director. They’ve been running them from their homes, around the clock to produce face shields and other PPE components for a donation.
“Our machines are printing headpieces, which will accept clear plastic shields,” explained Connors. “We are part of a coordinated effort not only among our staff but throughout the 3D printing community. In partnership with Mark Lyons, Senior Education Strategist at AET Labs, who reached out to the schools he has worked with to see if there was interest in creating the shields. We are producing the parts then coordinating a pick-up time with Lyons, who then coordinates the donation to the various hospitals.”
“We are not the only school that jumped at the opportunity to help,” said James Aukstikalnis. “But we are proud to do our part, helping when we can, and joining others across the commonwealth who have stepped up to the plate, offering donations of medical supplies and 3D printing essential parts.”
“Being able to actively and creatively respond to the shortage of supplies with 3D printing speaks to our mission,” Fitzpatrick said. “We are proud of the endeavor that is underway in concert with our staff and Senators Moore and Fattman. Ironically, the District originally acquired major equipment upgrades with the help of our Senators and State Representatives Murray, Soter, Muradian, Frost, and McKenna, now finds itself perfectly utilizing those resources beyond the classroom.”
“We will continue our 3D printing efforts as long as resources allow us to help address the shortage of supplies for medical staff and healthcare providers on the front lines,” said Connors. “I am happy to report that over the last few days, we were able to print 100 face shields to be sent to hospitals and medical facilities across the Commonwealth.”
