For example, one local hospital had a surplus of outdated masks. The filtering parts of the masks were fine, but the elastic and other structural parts were worn out. So Bull and a few students used 3D printers to make molds in which silicon mask parts could be cast. The silicon serves as a sort of scaffolding to which filter material from old masks can be attached, turning a previously useless mask into a useful one.
For this project and others like it, Bull has lined up assistance from students who can work in the shop remotely. Eric Dubois, a senior biomedical engineering concentrator, has been running 3D printers over the internet from his home in New Hampshire.
“I’ll be there working on other things and suddenly the machine will start up, and it’s Eric,” Bull said. “He’s been printing the molds and other parts. My job is to be the guy who goes in and…
