South Lake Tahoe 8th grader makes bands on his 3D printer for nurses and other essential workers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Besides at-home school and getting some outside exercise, an 8th grader from South Tahoe Middles School (STMS) has been making plastic bands on his 3D printer to help ease elastic band pressure on facemasks for healthcare staff and other essential workers.

Jaxxon Moynihan, 13, refereed AYSO soccer games last fall and earned enough in Amazon gift cards to purchase his own 3D printer and filament. He first became interested in 3D printing at the South Lake Tahoe Library two years ago when they got their first printer, and now that he has been in Jackie Tan's Maker Lab class STMS his passion has taken off.

"I am very proud of Jaxxon for taking on this project for healthcare workers," said Tan.

Jaxxon set up his maker space at home and when his mother Stephanie saw a boy scout in the mid-west create the bands and share the file for others to make them. Jaxxon was on board and started printing them right away.

"He's had great feedback from the nurses that it relieves the pressure on their ears," said Stephanie.

One nurse who received one of Jaxxon's bands said the bands "are going to be a lifesaver." The plastic part he makes rests on the back of the user's head and holds the elastic ear loops on face masks. This relieves the painful pressure experienced by healthcare workers who wear masks for several hours each day.

So far, Jaxxon has made 50, with 40 to Barton and 10 to others in the community including his dad who works for UPS. They take him about 30 minutes each to create. He'll keep making them as long as there is a need.

Another benefit of the bands is that they are easy to sanitize.

Mom said she's been so proud of her son with his perfect attendance and good grades and was disappointed he couldn't have graduation with his friends.

"This gets his mind off that and is a way to turn around the situation by giving back," said Stephanie.

Tan is getting supplies to her make space students so they can keep up with the hands-on class. She said it is unfortunate that her students can no longer access the lab at STMS but is encouraging them to take on daily projects where they can express their creativity.

The 3D file Jaxxon is using can be found here - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4249113.