When Bakersfield first started feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fab Lab team at California State University, Bakersfield jumped in to help by making 3D-printed face shields. Now, four months later, the fabrication lab is helping a high school student who also saw a way she could use her own innovation for good.
Elyse Wong, a student at Bakersfield High School going into her senior year, wanted to help local dental professionals, including her parents and their colleagues. Like others in the medical field, dentists have been dealing with a shortage of equipment these days. Since April, Wong made more than 220 shields, donating them to 20 practices through the Kern County Dental Society.
“I saw an increased demand for personal protective equipment that was not being met,” Wong said. “I wanted to help in a way that was within my means, as 3D printing face shields provided a practical solution locally and also gave me an excuse to tinker with 3D printing! Additionally, I wanted to create a multi-use face shield to address the environmental impact from single-use disposables with the new mandates for PPEs.”
Making the face shield involves three parts: the 3D-printed plastic frame, the die-cut clear plastic shield, and the adjustable strap, all of which Wong makes at home. She puts all three pieces together by hand to create the final product.
A unique need for face shields meant for dentists is a design that can accommodate dental loupes, the small magnifying glasses they use to get a better look in patients’ mouths. Wong worked with two designs, one traditional and an alternate with an extended frame to fit over the loupes. She is still working to perfect the modified version to be more compatible with the loupes without losing comfort.
“Trial-and-error is par for the course in a project like this, with many hours in planning and many rejected models before reaching a working prototype,” Wong said.
Fab Lab specialist Bobby Hartsock and Dr. Andrea Medina, director of grants and outreach for CSUB’s School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering, were a big help for her project, Wong said. Hartsock was behind the 1,200 face shields donated to local healthcare workers earlier this year.
“Having produced hundreds of shields for first responders, Mr. Hartsock was always willing to share his insights, wisdom and experience,” Wong said. “The Fab Lab also donated numerous shields to my project.”
To thank the Fab Lab team for its help, Wong decided to ask those who received a donated mask to pay it forward with a donation to the Fab Lab. So far, she has raised $1,840.
“Dr. Medina and Mr. Hartsock have been very generous with their time, sharing of resources, and willingness to help. I am grateful for all their support in making this project possible,” Wong said. “I hope the donations will help make a difference to raise community awareness of the educational opportunities provided by the Fab Lab.”
The Fab Lab team is always happy to help community members with their projects, even during quarantine when its doors are closed.
“Even though we are working from home these days, Bobby and the Fab Lab interns can still help with projects people are taking on at home,” Dr. Medina said. “That Elyse chose to raise money for the Fab Lab while working on her face shields makes the collaboration that much better.”
Like many of us, Wong is adjusting to a new life of virtual learning, limited social interactions, and finding creative ways to keep busy. Though she and her family have not been directly affected by COVID-19, this time still hasn’t been easy.
“Transitioning from school to online distance learning at home is definitely challenging,” Wong said. “I think the hardest part is having tempting distractions within arms' reach. I am beginning to appreciate the more flexible schedule; however, I still miss traditional classroom learning.”
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