A former student of Bradford Grammar has been thanked by grateful NHS staff after making almost 100 visors on his 3D printer.
Joseph Hill, originally from Brighouse, is studying electronic and computer engineering at Brighton University, and initially wanted to help his mum and her NHS work colleagues have access to comfortable PPE equipment.
Joseph has had a 3D printer for more than two years and said he had seen the amazing things it could create.
He said: “I’d been looking for a way to help people by using it and I was initially looking for a way to help my mum and a few colleagues.
“I was really shocked when I found out about the shortage of PPE, even for the doctors and nurses on intensive care units, and I wanted to help. After the first few, I was asked if I could make more, so I started printing all day and night.”
The first visors were basic, but after tweaking the settings to improve the equipment, Joseph was able to print the visors in under 40 minutes each, instead of two hours, and save on cost and weight.
“The weight part was important because the people using them will often be wearing them for hours and it was important that they were comfortable,” said Joseph.
“I also made a few visors which were designed specifically to be used over magnifying glasses, which are essential for some surgeons and cannot be used with most of the common designs for PPE visors.
“The response has been amazing. I feel honoured to be able to make some kind of difference to the NHS staff who are on the frontline. I’ve been told my visors are the best ones to be used because they’re light, comfortable and flexible and barely leave any mark, even after hours of use. It was really heart-warming to be thanked personally in a hospital newsletter.
“I’ve made almost 100 so far but I plan to make as many as I can while they’re needed.”
“The response has been amazing. I feel honoured to be able to make some kind of difference to the NHS staff who are on the frontline.”
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