3D face shields created in South Lake Tahoe for Barton Hospital - Printer help needed

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Hospital would like 1000 face shields for staff during the coronavirus pandemic, and a South Lake Tahoe couple has taken on the challenge. With about 100 masks a week they are in search of help from the community in their 3D printing efforts.

Keith and Linda Cloutier, owners of Rudy's Plumbing and Heating, are currently in production of the masks. Since a 3D printer takes about 3.5 hours to print one face shield, Keith is asking for community members who have a 3D printer to join him so they can get more shields to Barton.

"If I could 3 or 4 more printers producing the frames we could get Barton supplied with the needed PPE face shields that they are in need of much faster," said Keith. "They [Barton] currently are having a difficult time sourcing them. We want to get these done ASAP."

The Cloutiers have been printing 24/7 since they learned of the mask needs and how to produce them. Keith said Maker Nexus inspired them to focus efforts locally.

A person with a printer in Reno is helping and they can produce eight per day.

"The masks we are building are sturdy, reusable and can be sterilized," said Keith. "Over 100,000 (that is last week's number) of these have been printed and sent out around the world. Our focus is local. I’d love to get one or two more printers going on this effort. I’m sure our local schools have printers just sitting idle in classrooms right now. We are going full steam ahead."

If anyone would like to help, contact the Cloutiers at 530.545.1336 or by email KeithInTahoe@gmail.com. He can send the file over via email so people can get started printing.