BALANGA CITY — The Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory (AMRel) of Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) is producing face shields with the use of innovative 3D printing technology.
AMRel Project Leader John Ryan Dizon said the face shields will be distributed to frontliners combating the spread of the coronavirus disease in the province.
“About 30 face shields each were already delivered to the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center and Bataan St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center,” Dizon said in an interview.
Face shields were made of 3D printer filament, acetate film and rubber provided by different stakeholders including the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.
“A single face shield takes about an hour to be produced so with limited resources we have, we can only produce limited numbers,” he added.
Dizon is also appealing for help to boost the production by lending additional 3D printers to their research facility.
“Our 3D printers are for research and prototyping purposes, not for mass production. So machines may be damaged over time as we keep producing more of the equipment,” Dizon furthered.
Recognized by Department of Science and Technology as the first 3D printing research facility in the country, AMRel has only three working 3D printers used to contribute in addressing the shortage of personal protective equipment for frontline workers.