Posted on 8th Apr
A Mansfield District Council officer — as well as local schools and colleges — are doing their bit to support a call to make face visors for NHS staff on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.
They are using 3D printers and their own design skills to provide the much-needed PPE (personal protective equipment).
Dan Clover, who has worked in the council’s Design Services team as a quantity surveyor for nearly five years, is making plastic visors and door openers using his own 3D printer.
He has given his homemade equipment to frontline workers, such as care home staff and pharmacists, as well as council housing and housing repairs colleagues, who may have contact with people suffering from Covid-19.
Some of the visors have also been delivered to nurses at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton.
Dr Irena Guzik, consultant anaesthetist at King’s Mill, has appealed for more face visors and can be contacted on 078913 23538 or email [email protected]
Vision West Nottinghamshire College and teachers at Samworth Academy in Mansfield have been using their respective 3D printers to make visors, too
Dan (34), of Mansfield Woodhouse, said: “I hope they will help those people on the frontline who are putting themselves and their loved ones at risk.
“Everyone at the council and in the community is doing their bit during this difficult time and I’m just glad I can contribute, not only with my day-to-day job with the council, but also as a resident of Mansfield, by providing these pieces of equipment.”
Dan bought the 3D printer a couple of months ago as part of a personal venture to create a prototype for an invention he has designed and is seeking to patent around preventing misfuelling at petrol stations.
He said: “That project has now been put on hold to help with the corona virus effort. I only started 3D printing around a month ago and have joined various online communities to help me learn how to do it.
“I saw that people from other countries affected by the virus were printing various types of door opening devices so I reviewed all of the designs and, using my knowledge of design and of drawing software, I came up with my own models and started printing.
“It was a bit trial and error. I initially made them too small and thin, which made them too brittle to open heavy duty fire doors, but the final design seems to have gone down well with the council staff. I made around 60 for colleagues to use.
For the visors, Dan got in touch with staff at Vision West Notts College and Samworth Academy. Staff at Samworth shared their designs with Dan with a view to simplifying the design to reduce the 1.5 hours it takes to print them.
They cost about 70p to £1 each to make using 3D printer filament bought online. Dan is funding this himself but is hoping to get help with donations from the council and council staff.
Jill Finnesey, head of housing at the council, said: “Dan’s been a star and we are all so impressed with his skills and proud of his contribution. His equipment has been a great help and a big reassurance to his colleagues.
“The council is working hard to ensure that all our frontline staff have adequate and appropriate PPE during this crisis as staff safety is of paramount concern.”
Dan added: “I will carry on making this PPE for as long as it is needed.”
If you require visors or door openers, contact Dan via the Mansfield, Nottinghamshire Coronavirus (Covid-19) Mutual Aid Group at www.facebook.com/groups/599614573923370
Businesses that can donate PPE towards the PPE4NHS campaign can find out more at www.d2n2lep.org/PPE4NHS
