Suffolk library system uses '3D printer farm' to produce parts for medical gear

The collection of 70 printers enables the staff to produce 200 headbands for hospital face shields a day.

News 12 Staff

Apr 2, 2020, 10:39 AM

Updated 1,714 days ago

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Some Suffolk libraries are using their 3D printers to help make protective gear for medical workers.
Libraries across the county are closed due to the pandemic, but are still serving their communities. The Suffolk Cooperative Library System has pulled together about 70 3D printers into one auditorium at its Bellport headquarters.
They call it a 3D printing farm, and it's churning out plastic parts for face shields to protect medical workers.
"We are producing this piece, right here is the head band for the PPE face shield that was developed and designed by David Ecker at Stony Brook University," says Roger Reyes.
The shields are then finished by Stony Brook's iCREATE program. Reyes says the printing farm is churning out 200 masks per day.
Reyes adds that some libraries didn't have printers, but offered to purchase one to help the process. Staff at the Bellport facility works in small groups, and in a variety of shifts to maintain social distancing.
The group says it will keep up production as long as they're needed.