Coronavirus: College Professor Makes Face Shields In 'Fab Lab'

HARRISON, NY — A professor at Manhattanville College whose mom is a nurse on the front line fighting the new coronavirus pandemic is churning out plastic face shields using 3D printers in the school's new "fab lab."

Justin Capalbo, visiting Assistant Professor of Communications and Media, said he wanted to do something to support his mother and other health care professionals and first responders caring for patients during the outbreak.

"My mother works at a COVID floor at Syosett Northwell," Capalbo said. "And I felt really helpless. I started searching on the Internet and found many different designs, and began collaborating with Columbia, Cornell and others to use the most effective design. The design I am using was created by face shield designer Erik Cederberg."

Since he began working on the project two weeks ago, Capalbo has delivered more than 50 shields to Columbia University Medical Center and provided smaller quantities to several smaller organizations, including a cardiologist’s office and a school for special needs children.

His work complements a larger effort by the school to answer New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s call for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once word got out about his efforts, Capalbo said he began receiving dozens of requests for shields, as well as offers of donations to help fund the project. One of his goals is to spread the word about this work to inspire others who have access to 3D printers to set up shop making shields of their own.

Capalbo helps to run the fabrication lab — AKA the "fab lab" — that is part of Manhattanville’s new Center for Design Thinking.

Capalbo said the lab is typically used to produce prototypes to help students work out logistical problems in design work or other development projects. He said he began by making N-95 masks but soon discovered that he could make shields in about 90 minutes compared to almost 12 hours for the N-95 masks.

Capalbo’s work is part of a larger effort at the college to help during the COVID-19 crisis.

The school has also been collecting protective gear and other medical supplies to donate to the cause. “The campus community is very appreciative of the College's effort to support this initiative and we are all grateful for Justin's contributions to help protect those on the front line,” said Professor of Biology, Chris Pappas, Ph.D.

Pappas has spearheaded the collection of PPE to donate from the labs at Manhattanville. This includes about 600 autoclave bags (for biohazard waste disposal) 1,000 nitrile gloves; 100 disposable aprons, 30 N95 masks, 50 nuisance masks and 100 bouffant caps.

Those who want information on getting involved with or donating to the face shield project can email Manhattanville College at faceshields@mville.edu.