Three Dambuster Studios employees make over 2000 mask clips to help key workers

Originally posted on CoronaUnity.

Almost 2100 mask clips have been printed off and distributed by three Dambuster employees to make PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) more comfortable and less painful for the medical staff and key workers wearing it.

Staff on the frontline are wearing masks for at least eight hours a day, and it can lead to skin irritation and damage, according to Forbes. 

The three Dambuster Studios employees, Luke Plewinkski, Jake Fry and Hamish Williams decided to help after seeing a call to action for a nationwide effort to use 3D printing to provide equipment.

Hamish Williams, Junior Technical Designer at Dambuster, said “The response has been fantastic, it’s awesome and rewarding to see this hobby support the people who risk their lives every day to keep everything running.”

A work colleague’s partner put out a call on their internal work chat asking for help and they organised a small group to collaborate with.

Mr Williams said “We started a small group to help organise and collaborate the creation of these clips and fortunately one of them has a family member working at a medical centre here in Nottingham which allowed us to get the equipment straight into the hands of the people who need it.”

Luke Plewinski's company 24UP, with partner Michelle Chapman, helped produce the mask clips along with Hamish Williams and Jake Fry.

These mask clips have been distributed to Queen’s Medical Centre, City Hospital Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital, The Wells Road Centre and the Royal Mail. 

The mask clips were printed on their own 3D printers and were designed by Ken Lord, username Suraky, from the Thingiverse website. They are free to download and available for anyone with a 3D printer to help out. 

“I implore anyone who has a 3D printer and some filament to reach out to their local communities and help those who are using masks day to day,” said Mr Williams “as they make a real difference.”