Ridge Students 3D Print Coronavirus Face Shields For Hospitals

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Ridge High School students are doing their part to help those fighting on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.

Vivek Chakrapani and Michael Wu, 11th graders, met in Robotics class and are using their talents to 3D print face shields for hospital workers.

"We noticed on a Facebook group that hospitals were in need of masks and shipping would take forever due to the coronavirus," Chakrapani said. "In Robotics class we utilized a 3D printer a lot and both have one at home. We knew the best way to help is to print the masks."

Chakrapani found an approved face shield design by the New York Presbyterian Hospital and got to work.

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They initially made and donated 50 shields to the Morristown Medical Center last week. As word spread their project has escalated to the point of raising more than $1,800 in funding to keep their efforts going.

They have also expanded to bulk ordering masks while also making masks to get more coming in faster. In just a day and a half the high school pair raised more than $1,300 to order more masks.

Chakrapani also said people have also reached out volunteering their printers as well.

"We hope to produce 150 or more shields per week because of the increase in the number of printers we have access to as well," Chakrapani said. "Currently, we have six, but we are actively looking for more."

Chakrapani and Wu are also being very careful given the nature of the current environment and have been disinfecting the face shields before dropping them off at the hospitals.

"We'll keep looking for ways to help, but for now this was one way we thought we were able to make an impact as soon as possible," Chakrapani said.

To donate to Chakrapani and Wu’s cause or to volunteer to help with 3D printing visit their website at njfaceshields.org.

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