News

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Master Sgt. Justin Pittman, innovation lab senior project manager, inspects laminant sheets used for face shields April 7, 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the 436th Airlift Wing Innovation Lab "Bedrock" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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A completed face shield is set aside prior to being tested on April 7, 2020 at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the 436th Airlift Wing Innovation Lab "Bedrock" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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Master Sgt. Justin Pittman, Innovation Lab senior project manager, holds a completed face shield April 7,2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the 436th Airlift Wing Innovation Lab "Bedrock" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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Master Sgt. Justin Pittman, Innovation Lab senior project manager, removes newly printed face shield headbands from a 3D printer April 7, 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the 436th Airlift Wing Innovation Lab "Bedrock" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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3D modeling software depicts the final print for adjustable face shield headbands April 7, 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the 436th Airlift Wing Innovation Lab "Bedrock" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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A 3D printer creates face shield adjustable headbands April 7, 2020 at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the 436th Airlift Wing Innovation Lab "Bedrock" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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A 3D printer creates face shield adjustable headbands on April 7, 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the 436th Airlift Wing Innovation Lab "Bedrock" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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Airman 1st Class Trent Ramsey, 436th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation cargo processor (left), and Senior Airman Dominique Hedges, 436th Medical Group physical therapy tech (right), man a medical screening check point while wearing 3D printed face shields April 10, 2020 at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the Dover Air Force Base Innovation Lab "BEDROCK" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

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Airman 1st Class Trent Ramsey, 436th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation cargo processor, completes a medical screening while wearing a 3D printed face shield April 10, 2020 at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The face shields were printed by the Dover Air Force Base Innovation Lab "BEDROCK" for use by medical and security forces personnel supporting COVID-19 response efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding)

Dover AFB Innovation Lab 3D prints face shields to fight COVID-19 spread

Published April 10, 2020
By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Broadway
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --

As the world continues to labor amidst the COVID-19 epidemic, Dover AFB has taken numerous precautions to aid in mitigating the spread of the virus and protect the community. As experts search for vaccines and other alleviating schemes, Airmen at Dover AFB have utilized available resources to provide another level of protection to those working on the base.

Recently the Dover AFB innovation lab, BEDROCK, began 3D printing face shields in a continued effort to protect Airmen and community members from COVID-19 spread.

So far, more than 70 face shields were printed by the small team of Airmen at BEDROCK, and were distributed to members of the 436th Medical Group, who are at the forefront of Dover AFB’s efforts to stop the spread.

“It feels great to be able to contribute rather than sit around and wait,” said Master Sgt. Justin Pittman, Innovation Lab senior project manager. “We reached out and people said they wanted (the face shields).”

So Pittman’s team began taking requests and handing out completed masks as soon as possible.

Depending on supplies, Pittman said BEDROCK can produce up to 20 face shields each day. The shields are made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic that’s chemically resistant and reusable. Shields include a thin plastic visor and elastic headband which allows for a flexible fit.

While Airmen at the innovation lab are constantly melding individual ideas together to produce cost-effective products used around the base, Pittman said producing face shields was a total team effort.

Pittman said, “The team functions like a well-oiled machine,” where every member of the team has a specific function they complete in the process. Members are taking order requests, acquiring print files and ordering supplies for future orders.

Once additional shields are printed, they will be distributed to units around the base, prioritizing those who work in close proximity with personnel.