Colten Zaugg, center, with the new 3D masks he developed is being tested for oxygenation saturation levels at Billings Clinic while his dad, Spencer Zaugg, to his left, and Billings Clinic Neurosurgeon Dr. Dusty Richardson, right, look at Colton’s cell phone watching the amount of downloads to their dental website. A newer and better website called www.makethemasks.com was launched Wednesday for all to view and download the 3D files worldwide for free to help combat the corona virus. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Billings, MT – A new local website has been launched Wednesday for anyone wanting to help print 3-D masks for their own communities worldwide. Spencer Zaugg, a Billings dentist and former Stake President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints told the Yellowstone County News on Wednesday about a new free website they have just launched for 3-D masks for anyone who has a 3-D printer in their house or office. The free files and information can be downloaded online at www.makethemasks.com.
The whole idea and concept was initiated by Billings Clinic neurosurgeon Dr. Dusty Richardson who then called his friend Spencer Zaugg asking if he could make a 3D masks at his Dental office in which Spencer’s son Colten Zaugg started immediately with a design from scratch. It’s not even been a week old in the concept and they have made some revisions to make it work even easier for anyone putting it all together for their communities and anyone wanting to make one.
All the files, details, and design info along with revisions were originally uploaded on Zaugg’s dental office website at www.loveliveyoursmile.com that has received over 15,000 downloads for anyone trying to print around the world. The masks take about 3 hours to produce but the files are free to download. With so much need and request for the website, they teamed up with a Silicon Valley tech company and just launched the www.makethemasks.com website that is now live. The new website is expected to run faster but with so many people requesting the free file download, it’s taking time. The Billings Clinic website is also allowing individuals to download the file as it takes time and that time is slowing down the amount of people that can get onto the website.
On the new website front page, here’s what it says.
“COVID-19 has created a crisis-level shortage of protective medical masks in hospitals across the US, from New York to California. We have a solution! But we need your help to get these protective N95 masks produced and donated to front line medical workers across America as they fight this pandemic. The purpose of this initiative is to put real solutions into the hands of the public.
Do you have a 3D printer? We need your help! Do you have medical knowledge or contacts in manufacturing? Even if you don’t – take a look at these needs and pick a project to work on.”
As of press time, Wednesday marks the 2nd study that is being completed by the trio as Colten Zaugg, the developer of the 3D downloadable program, sits in the Billings Clinic Pulmonary Lab with Dr. Richardson who is trying to test the oxygenation saturation on the 3D reusable masks. The data will be available to anyone wanting it as soon as they are able to get it.
In short, Dr. Richardsons wants people around the world to be able to use the file to produce masks for their local communities during this trying time around the world whether it is a business or local resident. All you have to have is a 3D printer. “Go to www.makethemasks.com and help your local community with your 3D printer,” he says.
