TWO school teachers are using 3D printers to make face shields for the staff of multiple GP clinics to use amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Jason Horadam, of Dudley Public School, and Craig Smith, of Hunter School for Children with Autism, have spent the past few days feverishly creating the makeshift protective products around their regular teaching duties.
Mr Smith said they had heard of doctors sharing social media posts which explained how to design and print the protective shields.
A Hunter doctor whose child attends Dudley Public School then contacted Mr Horadam directly, knowing the school had 3D printers, and asked if he could print some suitable masks for the staff of her practice.
Mr Horadam said after a few trials on Saturday they had printed around the clock ever since, churning out close to 50 between them.
"[The doctor] has got just under 20 staff at her practice, so I'm making about 30 just for them alone," he said.
"She only picked up the first batch last night, but she took a photo and shared it with her staff and they were just over the moon.
"They just couldn't believe they were getting made. That someone out in the community was making them and looking after them, making sure they had the protective equipment that they need."
There has been widespread reports of a shortage of basic health supplies in Australia amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including face masks.
The face shields the duo are supplying are a plastic headband and holder created by the printer and a transparent plastic sheet.
"We looked into different styles and had a bit of a tinker with the size and what we could print," Mr Smith said.
"It takes about five hours to print one out and we've got them burning day and night at Jason's school and my home office."
The doctor told the pair her staff were trying to think of ways to show their gratitude, but Mr Horadam told her "not to worry about that, you're busy enough we're just doing it to help out".
The only real cost is the transparent sheets, which the duo - who previously worked together at Tighes Hill Public School - might need to charge for if printing continued "long term".
Mr Smith is now sending the printed plastic pieces interstate after an Adelaide doctor expressed interest.
The 3D printers draw from plastic from a reel and through a process of heating and cooling shape the product. The plastic cools as it is printed and hardens to form the item.
"We usually get kids to make bag tags and things like that, I didn't think they would actually be used for something so purposeful," Mr Horadam said.
"I'm happy that we're able to put it to use."
