Can I contribute to covid 19 by 3d printing ventilator parts or face shields for medical staff?

eric2light
eric2light Posts: 113 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
What groups should I be working with? Is this practical?

Any tips RE being actually useful to covid 19 response?

What are better resources than:

* https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/3d-printing-community-responds-to-covid-19-and-coronavirus-resources-169143/
* https://www.materialise.com/en/hands-free-door-opener

Replies

  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    Seems like a question for actual hospitals.
  • Buff_Man
    Buff_Man Posts: 623 Member
    Google around some people are already doing this to make attachments for scuba masks to attach to ventilators etc
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    MelanieCN77 wrote: »
    Seems like a question for actual hospitals.

    This. Check with your local hispitals and see what they actually need and what standards they will accept.
  • AliNouveau
    AliNouveau Posts: 36,287 Member
    Places are doing this here. Most hospitals will be ecstatic to get the supplies
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    edited March 2020
    Just saw a news clip and CBS about a company that's already doing this. They can't makecenuf, fast enuf w/5 3d orinters running dide by side.

    If you have the means to do it, contact your local hospitsls to access need/demand basedvon your production capacity.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    I'm not trying to poop on the idea but I find it really hard to believe that hospitals would accept this kind of thing from the general public. Doesn't most equipment have to be quality controlled by some law or standard or other?
  • AliNouveau
    AliNouveau Posts: 36,287 Member
    edited March 2020
    MelanieCN77 wrote: »
    I'm not trying to poop on the idea but I find it really hard to believe that hospitals would accept this kind of thing from the general public. Doesn't most equipment have to be quality controlled by some law or standard or other?

    I think the idea for the face shields is anything is better than nothing. When people are being asked to wear bandanas because they don't have enough face masks I think as long as they pass inspection they are happy for the help. These are times where people are asked to step up and help out as much as they can and in any way they can
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    AliNouveau wrote: »
    MelanieCN77 wrote: »
    I'm not trying to poop on the idea but I find it really hard to believe that hospitals would accept this kind of thing from the general public. Doesn't most equipment have to be quality controlled by some law or standard or other?

    I think the idea for the face shields is anything is better than nothing. When people are being asked to wear bandanas because they don't have enough face masks I think as long as they pass inspection they are happy for the help. These are times where people are asked to step up and help out as much as they can and in any way they can

    Sure on masks and whatnot, but ventilator parts I think they'd have to come from a vetted supplier.
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    Maybe but couldn’t the hospitals that have 3D printers make them?
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,347 Member
    MelanieCN77 wrote: »
    I'm not trying to poop on the idea but I find it really hard to believe that hospitals would accept this kind of thing from the general public. Doesn't most equipment have to be quality controlled by some law or standard or other?

    Donated materials of any kind--gloves, N95 masks, gowns, whatever are all being taken to testing facilities to make sure they meet guidelines. In Colorado, I believe Colorado State has set up testing facilities at all their campuses to make sure donated materials will in fact, protect the wearers.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    The guidelines are going to be different in different areas. Some states or health systems have a process for monitoring quality of donated items, some don't. Some facilities will accept certain things and not others. Check with local facilities and find out how it works where you are.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    I'm glad and encouraged to hear that it's working the way described.
  • fattycatt
    fattycatt Posts: 1 Member
    Open works Baltimore is a community organization looking for people with 3d printers to print face shields for medical workers. they have files you can access to print- the website is:
    www.mdmakersunite.com
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    edited March 2020
    This is the group in Sacamento CA that is making face shields uding 3d printers for local hospitals that I heard about on tv:

    https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-area-hackers-come-together-to-make-3d-face-shields-for-health-care-workers/31966767#

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