Teen Creates Face Shields With 3D Printer For Front-Line Workers

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — When the coronavirus pandemic came crashing down on the world, compassionate people found ways to help others. Ayra Hussain, a 10th grader at Reservoir High School, went above and beyond by building a 3D printer and manufacturing face shields for front-line workers.

"The first printer was a little difficult to assemble because I didn't know what I was doing, but with the second and the third printer it didn't take me as long because I got a better sense of where things go and how to be more efficient with my time and assembly," Hussain told Patch. "Before making face shields, I've never used a 3D printer before. That definitely factors into the fact that everything took longer in the beginning because I had to learn as I was doing it, but I learned more the longer I used the 3D printers."

Ayra was first inspired to make face shields when she saw adults creating them on Facebook.

"A few of my fellow members of my robotics team that already had 3D printers and already had prior experience were printing them as well, so in the beginning I asked them for some advice," she said.

At first, Ayra manufactured more than 60 shields. Each one takes several hours to make. She's delivered them to area nurses and doctors and to hospitals in New York and New Jersey. Everyone was beyond thankful for her donation of face shields.

"It was really cool to see that my shields were going to people who needed them, and they reciprocated the gratitude," she said. "Everyone who has gotten them so far have been very kind."

While sequestered in quarantine, Ayra vowed to make as many face shields as needed to support hospital workers, essential workers and others on the front lines.