How Makers Are Helping to Fight COVID-19
Background
** Updated 4/10/2020 **
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads and grows, personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the outbreak has become scarce. Supply chains faltered early in the spread and manufacturers have struggled to meet the demand for masks, face shields, gloves, and gowns [1]. Quick to answer the call were makers from around the world. In mid-March, a flurry of makers and maker-supporting companies began designing and prototyping PPE that could be made at home. Several volunteer organizations have generated a solid structure for coordination and distribution, and the NIH has created a special page on their 3D Print Exchange to share clinically approved PPE items that can be additively manufactured. Makers can also submit new designs for review, and users can see what designs have been submitted and what stage of review they are in.
Before you get to printing, be sure to read about and join the following organizations to learn about what are their current needs and what are their component preparation, collection, and distribution policies. Then check out some of the leading designs at the bottom of this page.
The Organizers
#GetUsPPE
Website | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
A centralized resource for healthcare professionals to request PPE and for others to donate or make PPE. Includes instructions for reaching out to your local healthcare organization as well as an overview of vetted projects for makers.
MAsks For Docs
Slack | Website | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
Community coordinating the production and distribution of face shields for healthcare professionals. Engages heavily with the 3D printing community, and is mainly organized via Slack. Includes channels dedicated to localities (join one or start your own!)
Operation shields Up
Organization coordinating the production and distribution specifically of the Prusa-design face shield to healthcare professionals. See their very helpful FAQ for more information, and the links to the latest Prusa shields below. No need to produce the clear panel!
Helpful Engineering
Slack | Website | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
A community organized on Slack for producing medical supplies to battle COVID-19. This group is focused on creating small teams to create solutions to the many problems associated with this pandemic (it is not focused just on masks or shields).
3D Printed Face shields
As is often the case, 3D printing was imagined as the solution to every shortage facing our healthcare professionals, but it is not well suited for all applications. To that end, the FDA put out this handy FAQ on what PPE can be 3D printed and what to consider when doing so. I, and many others, consider the humble face shield to be best suited for makers to print at home with their FDM 3D printers. In recent days 3D printed masks and mask frames have become popular because the public has been advised to wear face coverings. I will cover the latest in that effort in another post.
Image courtesy of Verkstan3D
3D VerkStan Visor
** This design has been validated by the NIH ** Download their 3D models for FDM printing here
Verkstan3D is a Swedish 3D printing equipment and materials supplier that designed an incredibly simple face shield that requires one FDM printed part and a clear sheet that can be produced with a 3-hole punch. The shield includes a brow cover to protect the user from drips.
I have successfully printed these on our lab’s Maker’s Tool Works MendelMax 3. I can make two in 2.5 hours at 50mm/s with 0.3mm layer height and a 0.4mm nozzle. 3DVerkstan has a great write up on recommended settings based on your printer’s hardware and capabilities.
Image courtesy of Prusa Printers
Prusa RC3 Face Shield
Download their 3D models for FDM printing here
Prusa is a pioneer of and leader in consumer-level 3D printing, and their team quickly rolled out a face shield. They even worked with their home Czech Ministry of Health to iterate it to its current state, the “RC3”. The shield is composed of two FDM parts and a clear shield that can be laser cut from plastic sheet.
I have printed several of these successfully, but it takes about 4 hours to make a kit (halo + bottom reinforcement). A local chapter has been accepting only these so I continue to make them. I prefer using this version of the halo that does not include the Prusa logo: Prusa RC3 Clean
Image courtesy of NIH 3D Print Exchange
DtM V3.0 Face Shield
** This design has been validated by the NIH ** Download the file here
This design has been vetted by and is distributed by the NIH currently. The advantage of this face shield is the protection from particle entry from the top of the shield. The build time is longer than the two shields below, but the increased safety is likely worth the wait. Similar to the designs below, a letter size clear sheet can be three-hole punched to create the shield portion. All instructions for building this are available at the download link above.
I have struggled to make one of these successfully due to the overhang. I believe the issue has been inadequate cooling, which I have upgraded since my last attempt. It takes a lot of time and filament to print one of these so I have been hesitant to try again.
Note: Coordinate with healthcare organizations or one of the aforementioned organizations before you start printing! Not all hospitals are willing to use just any equipment, so don’t waste your time and materials making things that your end user can’t or won’t use!
Primum non nocere
The maker community has enthusiastically risen to the challenge to provide PPE to healthcare professionals who can’t source professionally made and certified equipment. It is important that we makers temper this enthusiasm with respect for the limitations of our home manufacturing capabilities. It is important to remember that industrially produced PPE goes through rigorous testing to be certified for medical use. This is to say that we should be aware that our best efforts have the potential to be harmful if not considered and vetted carefully. The designs shown above are meant for when no better option is available, and they still leave some to be desired. It has been noted that they are not well suited to protecting the wearer from particles entering from the top of the shield. Other designs that solve this are currently being vetted, and I will update this page as these designs evolve.