Lab Manager Lends Expertise to Help 3D Print Prototype Mask

When aerospace engineering doctoral student Lee Whitcher wanted to see if he could 3D print a mold for a new protective mask that he had recently designed for frontline healthcare workers, he turned to the GVU Center’s Prototyping Lab.

Managed by Research Technologist Timothy Trent, the Prototyping Lab is home to the Projet 3510 HD, a state of the art 3D printer. The super high-resolution machine is “leaps and bounds beyond desktop 3D printers,” according to Trent, and capable of printing USP-VI medial grade plastic parts.

Trent, who is a Georgia Tech alumnus (BS CS 17) says the prototype took about 20 hours to produce. After preparing the file and the printer, it took 17 hours to print both halves of the mask prototype. He then spent nearly 3 hours in post-processing to ensure the pieces cured properly and to remove any excess material.

”Making molds should dramatically reduce production time compared to repetitively 3D printing each part," said Trent, a member of the College of Computing Technology Services Organization.

The full story about the project is available on Aerospace Engineering’s website.