Helena educators are using their 3D printers to print masks for healthcare workers.
Ryan Swenson is a Capital High Math Teacher and one of many teachers involved in printing masks. Despite school closures, Ryan is using his 3D printer to create masks using a design pattern by doctors in Billings. According to Helena Public Schools, Ryan’s masks are being used at places such as St. Peter’s Health. One printer can create one full mask every 3 hours or three smaller masks every 6 hours. According to Ryan, there are about 15 printers across the district providing masks for healthcare workers.
“It feels good. I mean, this printer was given to my classroom via a grant from the Helena Education Foundation. So, it’s really great to see the community supporting the schools which we’re able to help continuing to support the community through those options and those grants so it feels good,” says Swenson.
It is estimated that the pattern from the Billings doctors used to create masks from 3D printers has been downloaded over 12,000 times.
