News

Monday, April 6, 2020

MCC, MACC using 3D printers to produce items for health workers

 

Story courtesy of The Daily News, written by Cory Smith

April 5, 2020

 

SIDNEY TOWNSHIP — Confined to his own home, laid off from his manufacturing job, unable to attend his college classes or supervise lab students, Jason Binkley is like many in this time of COVID-19 who has a right to complain or ask for pity.

However, that’s not what the Ionia resident is doing.

With nurses, physicians, emergency responders and more working tirelessly to combat the spread of the virus as the remainder of the “non-essential” population is asked to obey Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, Binkley understands the predicament so many are in.

So instead, he got to work.

With a fascination for 3D printing, Binkley began doing some research online, looking for any products he might be able to produce with 3D printers from Montcalm Community College (MCC), where he both attends a skilled trades program and works as a part-time lab supervisor.

It didn’t take long before word spread through the “circles on the internet” of 3D printing enthusiasts such as Binkley, as designs for protective masks, shields and straps were made available — for free.

Now, utilizing the MCC printers and materials, Binkley is kicking out masks, face shield components and straps for their heads so medical professionals can more safely treat those who may be suffering from COVID-19.

“The mask, it’s like a supplement really. It’s not really meant to take the place of an N95 mask, but it can help,” he said. “Then I started making face shield brackets, and now it’s straps, so those who wear masks don’t have to strap them behind their ears.”

Binkley said while it takes about 1.5 hours to successfully create one product while utilizing two MCC 3D printers from his home, he’s not concerned about the quantity, but rather the fact that he has an opportunity to help during this crisis.

“We have these machines around the world, so we should be asking, how can we help? What can we make?” he said. “There are several designs out there and everyone is sharing them freely — it’s like a global effort. It’s not really mainstream news, but it should be.”

MCC President Stacy Young said as soon as she heard of the initiative, she was 100% on board.

“I love it. Anything that we can be doing to help right now just makes me so happy,” she said. “Personally, I feel inadequate. I’m not a health care worker, I’m not a doctor, I’m not a nurse. I’ve watched the news, and they say stay home, so obviously we’re doing that, but if there are ways we can support this initiative, in this case giving him the supplies, I want to do that.”

According to MCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Rob Spohr, additional printers and supplies are on their way to Binkley so he can increase his efforts.

“We are meeting Thursday, he’s going to pick up more printers and we have ordered more materials —they are going to be sent straight to his house,” he said. “I think that embodies what we are as a college at MCC and what we expect from our students. He can’t make a lot, maybe five masks a day, but you know what, he can use material it normally takes to make one mask and with the printer, turn that into five. If you can cut up one mask into five and get five uses out of it, that’s 30 masks a day we’re saving.”

Temporary laid off from Ventra in Ionia, Binkley said he will continue to remain confined to his apartment, but work with others from a distance, such as Montcalm Area Career Center CAD instructor Mike Johnson, as they network with other institutions such as Lansing Community College to create more 3D-printed products.

“He (Johnson) is making them from his home, along with his colleagues at their homes, using their own materials and shipping to health care providers,” Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) Director of Communications/Administrative Services Penny Dora said. “Mike says he doesn’t want any attention and he is just trying to do what he can to help — another reason why we have the best team of people at the MAISD.”

Binkley said he has begun reaching out to area hospitals and clinics and will work with them to eventually distribute the items as needed.

“We don’t have a drop-off site yet, and I’ve been told not to drop off at the hospitals yet because they have to be sterilized first,” he said.

MCC Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Bob Marsten was the first to reach out to Young about possibly producing the 3D masks at the college, as he was inspired by his daughter, Andrea Hallead, who is an assistant principal at Okemos High School where similar efforts are being made with 3D printers.

“She sent pictures, starting to make these masks, so I called Stacy Young, asking, “geez, is this something we could be doing?” he said. “I have to give a lot of credit to Stacy, organizing the whole thing. That’s exactly what we expect from our college president. It’s very heartwarming to see everybody work together like this instead of standing still like

we could have. It’s nice to see people get together from a distance and make something real happen. I’m real proud of the group at MCC.”

Students and instructors from Montcalm Community College and the Montcalm Area Career Center are working together — from a distance — to use 3D printers and create items such as face masks and face-shield components for emergency workers combating the COVID-19 virus. — Submitted photo

“He (Johnson) is making them from his home, along with his colleagues at their homes, using their own materials and shipping to health care providers,” Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) Director of Communications/Administrative Services Penny Dora said. “Mike says he doesn’t want any attention and he is just trying to do what he can to help — another reason why we have the best team of people at the MAISD.”

Binkley said he has begun reaching out to area hospitals and clinics and will work with them to eventually distribute the items as needed.

“We don’t have a drop-off site yet, and I’ve been told not to drop off at the hospitals yet because they have to be sterilized first,” he said.

MCC Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Bob Marsten was the first to reach out to Young about possibly producing the 3D masks at the college, as he was inspired by his daughter, Andrea Hallead, who is an assistant principal at Okemos High School where similar efforts are being made with 3D printers.

“She sent pictures, starting to make these masks, so I called Stacy Young, asking, “geez, is this something we could be doing?” he said. “I have to give a lot of credit to Stacy, organizing the whole thing. That’s exactly what we expect from our college president. It’s very heartwarming to see everybody work together like this instead of standing still like we could have. It’s nice to see people get together from a distance and make something real happen. I’m real proud of the group at MCC.”