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

Libraries across the county are closed due to the pandemic, but are still serving their communities in another way. The Suffolk Cooperative Library System has pulled together about 70 3D printers into one auditorium at its Bellport headquarters.

News 12 Staff

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Apr 2, 2020, 2:36 AM

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Updated 1,729 days ago

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 in another way. 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.

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"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.

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