{"id":115197,"date":"2020-04-03T13:15:40","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T23:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=115197"},"modified":"2020-04-03T13:15:40","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T23:15:40","slug":"uh-west-oahu-lab-3d-prints-ppe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/04\/03\/uh-west-oahu-lab-3d-prints-ppe\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu lab 3D prints protective medical equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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V.E.T.S. Program Director Richard Jones tries on a face shield with a 3D<\/abbr>-printed headband.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>–West Oʻahu<\/span><\/a> is assisting with the COVID-19 response with the help of 3D printers at the campus\u2019 Veterans Empowered Through Stem<\/a> (V.E.T.S.<\/abbr>) lab.<\/p>\n

Richard Jones<\/strong>, V.E.T.S.<\/abbr> program director and associate professor of science education at UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span>, is collaborating with faculty, staff, students and community partners to create 3D-printed face shield headbands and face masks in an effort to address a shortage and need for personal protective equipment (PPE<\/abbr>) for Oʻahu<\/span>\u2019s front line medical workers.<\/p>\n

“I think we are aware of the dire need for PPE<\/abbr> and when the call came out to help, we were more than happy to lend our machines and our design expertise to this project,” Jones said. “I think that everyone wants to help and we have the ability to contribute.”<\/p>\n

Jones said the endeavor originated on March 23, when Assistant Professor of Mathematics Kamuela Yong<\/strong> sent an email to the mathematics, natural and health sciences division with a link to a PPE<\/abbr> printing project at UCLA<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“He basically let everyone know that we had 3D printers here at UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> and said we could help,” Jones said. After that, Ricardo Custodio<\/strong>, associate professor of health sciences, reached beyond campus and contacted his colleagues at The Queen\u2019s Medical Center–West Oʻahu<\/span>.<\/p>\n