3D printing PPE for the NHS
The Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force have tapped into their creativity to help the NHS…but how?
“We’re just doing our small part just to try and help get over this crisis.” — WO Scott ‘Barney’ Barnett
Take a look at how all three services have being creative and helping support the NHS with by printing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 👇
Royal Navy — 10,000 face visors
A Royal Navy engineering officer has spearheaded a campaign to make 10,000 face visors to protect people against COVID-19 infection.
Warrant Officer Scott ‘Barney’ Barnett, who works at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, had a peaking interest in 3D-printing at the air station. So, he set up his own machines at his home in Mullion, Cornwall and enlisted his family to help produce the face screens.
Working with a small group of similar-minded people he met online, they have now produced more than 7,000 masks with another 3,000 in production.
They have handed out the visors to doctor’s surgeries, pharmacies, care homes and charities across Cornwall.
“I’ve been involved with the innovation hub and the 3D printers at Culdrose since it was set up last year. It was in March that I first came across the design online for a headband which you fasten with elastic and add an acetate visor.” — WO Scott ‘Barney’ Barnett
Royal Air Force— improving comfort for the NHS
RAF Odiham's Chinook Support Centre (CSC) is supporting the NHS in the by manufacturing and distributing supportive clips to NHS workers to ease discomfort caused by the protective facemasks.
CSC Team members who have family working within the NHS treating coronavirus patients quickly identified a request from the 3-D National Printing Society.
The request was to manufacture supportive clips to reduce pain and discomfort caused by the elasticated straps on protective facemasks.
“It is great to be able to use the skills and resources that are available to me in my job and to be able to support my wife during this extremely hard time for her is really rewarding”. — Chinook Support Centre (CSC) Team member
The 3-D printer at RAF Odiham, ordinarily used for Service Modifications and Special Fits for the Chinook aircraft, is now running 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
British Army — 22 Engineering Regiment
Soldiers from the British Army, 22 Engineer Regiment have combined their professional knowledge and innovative skills to help a national appeal for PPE.
For 1 month, 24 hours a day, their 3D printer has contributed to the 39,000 PPE masks produced across the UK for the NHS staff.
Determined to help health workers combat the coronavirus pandemic the Engineers changed focus from printing terrain models and training aids to producing much sought after PPE following an appeal from 3DCrowd UK.
“For the last 12 months we have been encouraging personnel to bring innovation to how we work and the skills learnt are now enabling us to contribute in a small way to the protection of our frontline workers who are doing an amazing job in treating COVID-19 patients”
— Captain Ben Turner, Intelligence Officer at 22 Engr Regiment
