Robotics team uses 3D printing to make masks for essential workers

by Ashley Herzog 

School is cancelled for the remainder of the year, but members of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School robotics team have turned their attention to helping the community during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Using 3D printers, the robotics team created face shields for essential workers and businesses whose employees are at highest risk of being exposed to the coronavirus. 

“We make face shields for anyone that has a need for them,” said Ryan Goubeaux, one of two robotics team coaches at BBHHS. “So far, we have been focusing on local businesses and frontline health workers. That includes fire departments, nursing homes and hospitals, among others.” 

The idea came from BBHHS students and 2021 robotics team president Shahil Merchant, Goubeaux said. 

The team of dedicated robotics enthusiasts assembling masks consists of six people: Goubeaux, Merchant, former BBHHS student Michael Wilson, Nordonia High School student Cole Kowatch, former student and middle school robotics coach Casey Kowatch, and Craig Kowatch, the second coach at the high school. 

“The face shield consists of two parts: a 3D printed plastic headband and two laser-cut plastic shields,” Goubeaux said. “BBHHS has all of the tools needed to create the face shields, including multiple 3D printers and a laser engraver in the fabrication lab. 

“There are many companies and organizations that have put the designs online, so we didn’t need to design anything. This saved a lot of time and has allowed us to focus more time on production and assembly.” 

The team meets at BBHHS to use the school’s equipment. They have managed to assemble masks while still following social distancing guidelines, said Craig Kowatch. 

“We used several safety measures for the process,” he said. “We have kept the number of people involved a small, consistent group. We wore masks, washed our hands and took our temperatures every time we went in to make shields.” 

Some of the essential businesses that have received the masks include the Brecksville, Broadview Heights and North Royalton fire departments; Metro Health Hospital; Core Cryo in Brecksville; and The Heights Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Broadview Heights, Kowatch said. 

As the Ohio economy slowly reopens, the robotics team expects more people to need masks as they venture outside their homes. The team has no plans to quit their work any time soon.  “We are going to keep making them as long as there is a demand,” Goubeaux said. “We really want to help as many local businesses as we can.”

Feature image photo caption: Members of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School robotics team are using 3D printing to make masks for essential workers.