Rushden teenager 3D prints hundreds of free face shields

A teenager from Rushden is putting a Christmas present to good use by 3D printing hundreds of free face shields during the coronavirus lockdown.

Adam Mackay, 18, finished a mechanical engineering course at Northampton College in June and got a 3D printer from Santa Claus last year.

After venues across the country were closed to halt the spread of the virus he was recently furloughed from his job as a technician at AMF Bowling in Wellingborough.

And with some encouragement from his mum's friends he decided to do his bit from home after his cousin - an NHS nurse - contracted coronavirus.

Adam said: "My cousin is an NHS nurse up north and she was telling us just how little PPE she had - only an apron and gloves.

"She has now been diagnosed with coronavirus.

"I just want people to be safe. I'm stuck in the house and have a 3D printer so I wanted to help."

Adam is making the shields by 3D printing the frame having downloaded a file online, with a hole-punched sheet of laminator plastic.

He has already got the process down from two hours to 30 minutes to print one.

He is being helped by fellow printers Stewart, Lee, Dave and Allen, and, with help from another volunteer Ethan, has delivered 250 to NHS workers and other key workers across the county.

And he has since been inundated with orders from organisations in Northamptonshire.

Adam said: "I have got loads more to do. I've got orders from KGH, NGH, pharmacies, GPs.

"I've got just over 1,500 shields to make."

Adam has set up a website - www.freefaceshields.co.uk - for anyone who wants one. People can also donate to the costs of making the shields.

Anyone who wants a free face shield, or who has a 3D printer and is willing to help print them, can also contact [email protected].

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