Ollerton family's bid to help NHS by making medical mask ear clips

Alan Hudson, his partner Shelena Hartley and seven year-old-daughter Wynter are making face mask “ear savers” using 3D printing. The clips attach to the surgical masks, helping to prevent sore ears, caused by the pressure of straps.

Alan, who runs AJ’s Farmhouse Furniture, regularly uses 3D printing in his work. Unable to carry out his usual tasks due to the lockdown he started to make the clips in his Boughton workshop about a week ago. He has four 3D printers, and one machine is able to make around 22 clips an hour.

They are now being sent out nationwide to NHS staff and keyworkers. Today, Friday, April 24, the family sent 182 clips, bringing their total to 2,520 to date.

Alan said: “I’d heard about people doing 3D print face masks, but the idea to make the clips seemed a better one, they can even be auto-claved and reused. They stop people from getting sore from constant wear of a mask, we heard they were much needed.”

Shelena, known as ‘Sugar’ said: “I’m so proud of Alan. He has been printing the clips, I help with the Facebook page, cleaning, packaging and sending and Wynter gets involved with the packaging.

“We have paid for a new printer to help speed up the process, so we have gone from making less than 100 a day to 200. Alan has bought all the filament needed to make them and paid for all the shipping.”

One recipient said: “Wearing masks all day is not comfortable, your ears are sensitive and can itch. The masks pull at your ears and move. These are amazing. What a fabulous idea. No more sore ears.”

The family have been approached by people offering to donate money. The family have turned it down, asking people instead to donate to the Simon Ebert GoFundMe page. Their friend Simon Ebert, from Basford, died aged 39 on March 5.

Alan said: “We don’t want money, but it people want to do something Simon’s Go-Fund-Me page is helping his family struggling with his loss and funeral costs.”