Stonington -- The Stonington Community Center is planning to produce 3D-printed protective face shields for the town’s first responders and health care workers at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in its COMO Makerspace facility.

It is also asking the community to assist by donating materials, cash, or face shield visor components printed with at-home 3D printers. Each face shield costs approximately $6 to make and can be printed and assembled in an hour.

The community center will use its Luzbot TAZ 6 3D Printer and the Glowforge Plus laser cutter, to make the face shields.

“The COMO makerspace equipment will assist in meeting a critical need for these heroes who serve us all on the front lines of this pandemic,” said community center Executive Director Beth-Ann Stewart, in announcing the effort.

The materials needed to produce the face shields include 8.5” x 11” acetate transparency sheets, ¼” or wider elastic, ¼” or wider rubber bands, 2.85 mm PLA filament and 2.85 PETg filament.

Community members who have a 3D printer can print face shield visors and deliver them to the COMO for assembly and distribution. Instructions for printing and delivering the visor component of the face shield can be found at www.thecomo.org/3d-print-ppe.

The center said it hopes businesses and home offices may have ¼” rubber bands and 8.5” x 11” acetate transparency sheets in their stock to donate. Donations of 3D printed components and needed supplies must follow specific production and packaging guidelines.

Due to the critical shortage of personal protective equipment, the community center said it hopes to continue the production of face shields to meet the needs of the community. More information about the initiative and how donations can be made can be found at www.thecomo.org/ppe.