Got a 3-D printer handy? Sanford industrial design firm Mertek Solutions does, and is working to put it to use to help in the COVID-19 crisis.
Mechanical Design Manager Kirk Pedley of Mertek printed his first shield on Tuesday using specifications sent to him by the printer manufacturer. The tedious process took about two hours he said in a post on Facebook.
The company has one 3-D printer, and he estimates he can make about four shields a day.
“They can be used for medical purposes once we source the correct materials,” Pedley said. “If we can get everything worked out we will try to make what we can. Our printer manufacturer can actually distribute anything that we make. That is really all we know at this time.’
UPDATE: Mertek says it has partnered with both high schools in the county to help make the shields, which will be used for school employees distributing meals.