Pasadena’s ArtCenter Students Assemble Face Shields for Healthcare Workers

Shield Makers PPE by ArtCenter College of Design Students (Photo – ArtCenter)

Students at ArtCenter College have banded together to help in the fight against COVID-19.

By Garrett Rowlan

Working around the clock, they are using 3D technology to print and assemble face shields for hospitals in LA County and around the world.

The effort follows a two-week design process in partnership with Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center, after which ArtCenter students began production of the protective shields for medical professionals.

For those with access to a 3D printer the site shieldmakers.org provides design and instructions, but anyone willing to help is encouraged to visit the site. The student group, Shield Makers by name, have supplied 900 or so shields to LA County, and they have facilitated the manufacturing of another 2,000 protective shields for area hospitals in Jakarta.

Shield Maker Facts

Facilitated by one student’s global network, a manufacturer in Jakarta has used the open source designs to make more than 2,000 protective face shields for area hospitals:

1. Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, Calif.
2. LAC + USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
3. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
4. Adventist Health, Glendale, Calif.
5. Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, Calif.
6. Huntington Hospital, Pasadena, Calif.
7. Siloam Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
8. Other temporary COVID-19 hospitals, Jakarta, Indonesia

- 1000 face shields created (as of April 18, 2020).

- On track to produce 5,000 within the next few weeks.

- Anticipated output: 300 - 400 produced each day (once running at full capacity).

- 30+ ArtCenter students/faculty involved with Shieldmakers.

- Additional students at Caltech and CSUDH have helped the effort.

- 25 donated 3D printers are set up in a facility at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center producing 200+ parts per day.

- Silicone casting process set up at Rancho producing 150+ parts per day.

- 4 local partners: Monoprice, LA County Library, Supplyframe and Smithgroup.

- 3 to 16 hours a day, per student, dedicated to working on the project.