Library 3D printers pitching in for face shields and more
By Allison Cavis, IT Specialist, Estes Valley Library For the Trail-Gazette
What’s ahead? While our 3D printers continue contributing essential components to protective equipment, the Library and its partners are planning programs to help us all mentally navigate these unique times. One example in the works: we’re partnering with author Dayle Spencer to deliver her powerful ‘coping with loss’ workshop series soon through a virtual webinar series. Estes Valley Library / Courtesy photo Stay tuned for more details. The Library’s second-floor Makerspace is home to two 3D printers. Together, we’ll continue staying safe, looking out for one their invaluable coordination,, They have excellent advice on another, and sharing kindness the Library—and hundreds of materials required, what help is and culture in ways that conothers—are guided in what to most needed, and how to nect and sustain us. make, how to make it, and what to do next. A C C E P T I N G N E W PAT I E N T S ! First, our bigger 3D printer went into action: the Lulzbot TAZ6 is creating frames for protective face shields at a rate of one every 2.5 hours. As of this article, 52 frames have been delivered. From there, the frames are Specializing in sanitized using industry stanCataract Care dards, then assembled with other components into complete Board Certified Surgeon Thousands of successful face shields. The Northern Colprocedures orado Face Shield project, and No-stitch, no-patch now Make4COVID, are delivercataract surgery ing these shields to local and Advanced surgical regional facilities who continue techniques Dr. Dustin Asay, to request them weekly. Experts in monofocal & Dr. John D. Kirk, What about our other 3D multi-focal intraocular lens Dr. John Colvin printer? Our little guy, the Lulz...and Other Common Eye Conditions bot Mini, was feeling restless until it too received an assign Dry Eye Glaucoma Specialized contact Diabetic Retinopathy ment. Coordinating with the lens fittings Retinal Disease statewide Make4Covid team, Macular Degeneration the Mini is making face-mask buckles (a.k.a. “ear savers”), On-Site Surgery Center for Great Patient Care which make wearing masks for 3650 East 15th Street long shifts more comfortable Loveland, Colorado for healthcare workers. 669-1107 Wondering how you can help? We recommend contacting KirkEyeCenter.com • Facebook.com/KECLoveland Make4COVID to find out more. See all that you can
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n March, we saw the headlines, Like you, we wondered what we could do. Healthcare facilities projected they would not have necessary equipment amid the coronavirus surge. Even towns with very few COVID-19 cases nonetheless faced scarcities in their supply chains. This was a real problem that called out for a creative solution. Many of you reached out to ask, “Could the Library’s 3D printers help create urgentlyneeded healthcare equipment?” After some research and careful testing, the answer was, “Yes!” And it couldn’t have happened without some innovative collaboration among regional partners. A bit of background: the Library’s second-floor Makerspace is home to two 3D printers. The space was inspired by you—the many patrons who consistently said they wanted opportunities to learn and share using tools and technology. Not only 3D printing—the Makerspace has sewing machines to repair clothes, tools to fix lamps, materials for arts and crafts—and best of all, it is a place for shared learning. Before our community’s 3D printers could be put into action to make medical supplies, there were big questions to answer: How would we know what to make? How could we be sure our designs met the requirements? Who would get these supplies to the right medical staff? Fortunately, those questions were answered by joining forces first with the Northern Colorado Face Shield Project and later Make4COVID.co. With
donate supplies. Visit make4covid.co for fuller details.
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COVID-19 WELLNESS WARRIORS • 23
