3D printing shields all in the family

The family of plastics executive Doreen Becker is doing its part to meet the shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE) for health care workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

Becker is sustainability director for Ampacet Corp., a leading maker of color and additive compounds and concentrates based in Tarrytown, N.Y. Earlier this month, her 16-year-old son Grant began making plastic headbands for face shields on a pair of 3D printers that he had built himself.

To make the headbands, Grant Becker used a design file that he found online from the State University of New York system. The file was made by Czech technology firm Prusa Research.

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 The Beckers live in Pleasantville, N.Y., north of New York City, which has been hit hard by COVID-19. Doreen Becker soon added a 3D printer from Ampacet’s office in Tarrytown to the family’s headband production.

The headbands are made of glycol-modified PET. The Beckers then attach the headbands to acetate sheets to complete the face shields. As of April 10, the family had completed 25 shields, all of which were donated to the ambulance corps in Pleasantville. Grant Becker also volunteers with the ambulance corps.

Doreen Becker said in an email that her family “was really distressed by hearing doctors and nurses on the news pleading for PPE.” She added by phone April 8 that printing the shields was Grant’s idea.

“He likes to do things in the community and felt like this was a way for us to contribute,” Doreen Becker said.