George Pingen, associate professor of engineering, has begun using Union University’s 3D printers to produce a component of face shields to be assembled at Austin Peay State University and distributed to medical personnel through TEMA, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
Pingen learned of the need for face shields when his wife read in a Jackson Sun article that Governor Bill Lee had requested state universities to produce supplies for medical personnel in the state of Tennessee. The initial goal for the state was 10,000 face shields. Pingen and his students have already produced 1,150 and counting.
“I was sitting at home during spring break,” said Pingen. “I was supposed to go to Nepal to explore options for a new study abroad trip. That obviously fell through, so we were sitting at home trying to look for opportunities to maybe help make a difference in this.”
On the Tuesday of spring break, Pingen reached out to Austin Peay and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to receive a file and request to start production. By noon that Tuesday, Pingen started producing the component that connects the elastic head strap to the plexiglass face shield.
“It was quite a coincidence,” said Pingen. “We had solicited donations from different engineering companies and other companies in Jackson to help us put on three weeks of engineering summer camps this summer. So we had just placed an order for four new 3D printers, which came in last Tuesday, on the day when all of this started.”
Now, Pingen and the department have a total of twelve 3D printers running 24/7.
“I came in two days to help work,” said Shawn Ross, sophomore engineering major. “The first day I started about 6 p.m. and went until about 2:30 in the morning, building the printer and switching out prints on the old ones. I came in the following day about noon and worked until that evening, just finishing up building the printer and switching prints.”
Pingen reached out to his students and those in the department telling them about this endeavor. Since then, they have worked together to keep up production. Each printer produces 2-3 shield pieces every three and a half hours and students have volunteered to coordinate the 24/7 production. Some student volunteers are non-engineering majors and have never touched or seen a 3D printer before.
“It’s really nice all of us being there together,” said Davina Norris, senior engineering major. “There was one student further along than me, so he would come over and give me pointers, helping me along. It was just a really good experience to work with everybody and get to know them better.”
Norris joined the efforts Tuesday evening with her father, working with Pingen and other volunteers to build the new 3D printers and begin production.
Norris said that before this experience she was not sure how her engineering major could be used for humanitarian work.
“I’m hoping that I can take away experience from this that will help me better see how to use my skills in the future,” said Norris. “I’m really excited that I got to do this, cause it’s opening my eyes to what that might look like.”
Ross said it was Pingen’s dedication to the project that taught him the importance of helping out.
“I think Dr. Pingen deserves recognition for what he’s doing ’cause he’s been there constantly building these things and working on it,” said Ross. “There are certain things in life that you kinda have to put a priority. If people need help and you can help them, you need to be able to do that, even if it means sacrificing your free time. There are things more important than what you want.”
While the state’s original goal was for 10,000 face shields produced by early next week, Pingen says production will probably continue. Since online classes have resumed after spring break, production has been more challenging, but Pingen says it has been fulfilling to have the opportunity to take part in the efforts.
“It’s been exciting to find something that can make a difference, that I’ve already had a passion for,” said Pingen. “I’m glad that Union can be involved in this overall project and make a difference.”
Photo by Addie Carter
