Council Rock Students 3D Print Protective Gear For Area Hospitals

NEWTOWN, PA — Five Council Rock high school students are using 3D printers to make personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the district, four Council Rock High School South students are using skills acquired in Fred Bauer’s honors engineering and robotics class to make the masks. Additionally, Spencer Waybrant, a teacher from Council Rock North, is working with one of his students to develop prototypes for safe medical masks and face shields.

The students, working with the school district, are using seven 3D printers in the effort. Students involved in the project include Dean DiDomenico, Daniel Krauss, Noah Necowitz, Daniel Takacs and Dylan Weselovs.

After testing out a various prototypes, the students completed their final face shield design and sent it to the Bucks County Emergency Operations Center for approval and then for distribution to local health care facilities, including Saint Mary Medical Center, said Susan O'Grady, the district's spokeswoman.

So far, they've produced more 60 medical masks, which are not yet approved by the Bucks County Emergency Operations Center, and more than 70 face shields, which have been approved.

Print jobs range between two and a half to four hours, O'Grady said.

The team of students, faculty, nurses, and doctors have been working with the Bucks County Emergency Operations Center throughout production to determine where equipment is most needed, the district said.

The Bucks County Emergency Operations Center will provide monetary compensation for all of the materials being used, the district added.