UACCM makes equipment for health workers
MORRILTON — When the call came from the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub to help protect health care professionals and stop the coronavirus pandemic, the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton turned to its technical labs for assistance.
At the Workforce Training Center, a team of the college’s employees gathered in the Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology labs to make parts for face shields. This equipment, used to keep health care workers safe from the virus, is in critical need around the country, including at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
IMMT instructor Brian Lum and Dean of Technical Studies Bobby Keeton worked through the day and night. They used CNC routers — computer-controlled machines used for cutting materials — to fabricate 587 acrylic rigid visor bills, a component to face shields.
Brian Lum said he was proud to aid health care workers, who are putting their own health in danger while fighting the spread of COVID-19.
“So many brave men and women are selflessly going above and beyond for their fellow human beings,” Lum said.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, UACCM has sought ways to help the health care community. Recently, the college transferred its stockpiles of masks, gloves, gowns and sanitizing wipes from its nursing program to UAMS.
Keeton sent the designs to Lum and drafting instructor Kristen Karetov, who is using the college’s 3-D printer to manufacture the face-shield bands, a process that takes longer than the visor. Lum decided to use the IMMT lab’s three Laguana IQ CNC routers. Lum prepared the lab to work as a production line, where all machines could run at once, and the team could monitor for quality control.
Allen Holloway from the college’s custodial department ensured that the IMMT lab got the acrylic from mrplastic.com, and he picked up several 4-by-8-foot sheets from Maumelle.
Lum said there was a learning curve when the team started the process: They needed to figure out how to change the large sheets into a smaller size to fit the machines, how to give the shields a finished look and how many they could make at once. The team adjusted its technique in the early phase of cutting. Lum revised the design to eliminate the need to smooth the product’s edges, and he slowed the cutting to reduce wear and tear.
“I found when I slowed the machine down, the cuts were cleaner, and cutting bits lasted longer,” Lum said.
Lum said the three CNC routers running together can produce 45 visor bills in less than 40 minutes. As the machines roared in the background, the team peeled off a blue covering to reveal a clear finish.
On Friday morning, Holloway loaded up boxes full of visor bills and delivered them — all 587 — to the Innovation Lab in North Little Rock.
“Making these visors are the very least we could do, and I will be honored to step up again when called upon,” Lum said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity.”