While following news on the pandemic, Amar Anand ’21 realized that there was a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment amongst healthcare workers and hospitals throughout New Jersey.

His solution to the problem? 3D Printing. 

With the help of his sister, the two were able to find a design for face shields that they could create with their 3D printer at home using no other materials except printer filament and transparencies. 

“At first, we were going to make facemasks, however they required filters and elastics, both of which we didn’t have at home,” Amar said. “Instead, I looked at various 3D printing forums and saw that there were a lot of news stories about face shield printing so we decided to go with that.” 

Once Amar was able to alter the design to better suit his printer at home, he began printing.

Amar mentioned that it takes roughly 30 minutes from start to finish to print a mask and he and his sister are able to make around 15 to 20 masks a day.

“We would make more if we could but we found that if we work the printer too hard it gives us bad prints and we do have to give the printer breaks throughout the day so that the motor doesn’t burn,” he said.

With a few face shields completed, Amar and his sister began to reach out to family friends who work in the medical field and offer the face shields as donations. 

“We have a lot of family friends who are either doctors or know people in the medical field, so we began reaching out to them to donate the face shields,” Amar explained. “They then took the face shields and distributed them to their departments and others in need.” 

The face shields have been donated to Jersey Shore Medical Center, RWJ Hospital in New Brunswick, Princeton Hospital, Community Medical Center in Toms River, and some local urgent care centers. 

So far, Amar has 3D printed and donated 250 face shields and intends to keep printing and donating as long as they are needed and supplies are available. 

“People have been very appreciative of our donations,” he said. “We are just happy that we are able to help those who are working on the frontlines during this time. As a community, we all have to pitch in and help one another in times of crisis.”