GearTicks pivot from making robots to PPE

Olivia Crisafi delivers masks made by the Lincoln GearTicks to the Newburyport Salvation Army.

By Olivia Crisafi and Victor Han

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the GearTicks, Lincoln’s FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, has been making and delivering face shields for nearby health facilities, fire departments, and nursing homes.

After winning Inspire, the top award at the Massachusetts state championship, the GearTicks shifted focus away from competing, since the FIRST Championship event in Detroit was cancelled, and looked at ways to use their unique skills, tools, and materials to help the community. They recognized the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) from health care workers and first responders and decided to put their mechanical design skills to work.

The GearTicks designed two versions of the face shield, both of which used easily available transparent report covers to shield the user. They used CAD (computer-aided design) software to design simple, lightweight finished products. One design uses 3D printing technology, while the other uses laser-cutting technology. Due to the shortage of rubber bands, the team utilized rubber tubing to secure the 3D printed headpiece.

One of the laser-cut face shields.

To date, they GearTicks have delivered 275 face shields to nine facilities. Email hello@gearticks.com if you have need of their face shields.