EPP PhD student Patrick Funk making 3-D printed masks

Current EPP Ph.D. student Patrick Funk wanted to help hospitals in dire need of masks due to COVID-19, so he's printing them using polymer plastic 3-D printers, and teaching others to do the same. Funk, alongside Wes Tuscano, recently read about hospitals in dire need of masks to help curb the spread of coronavirus and decided to take up the cause at Tuscano Machine in Big Timber, Montana.

Tuscano Machines specializes in manufacturing small parts using both additive and subtractive techniques. Additive manufacture is where 3-D printers come into the equation and subtractive is traditional machining. Using the shop's polymer plastic 3-D printers, Funk and Tuscano manufacture plastic masks for donation.

“We saw this opportunity and knew it was a good way to give back,” Tuscano said.

To read more about Funk's efforts, go here.