3-D printing face shields for the hospitals
12This was on Nextdoor. From what I saw when Meh had 3-D printers for sale, a number of you are pretty knowledgeable about them, so I thought you might like this:
"Anyone who has a 3D printer can print face shields for our local ER doctors, nurses, etc.
Here is the Open-Source link:"
- 7 comments, 28 replies
- Comment
Do check with your local hospital first to see if they will accept them.
@Ignorant We’ll accept them!
@cinoclav Thank you for what you do, the sacrifices
and vulnerabilities you are making. That goes for all who are helping us get thru this time.
Can you also print the clear plastic shield part?
@jst1ofknd It says this in the FAQ:
I have a 3D printer, but no means to produce a transparent visor. What should I do?
You can get in touch with the rest of the community on social media or via PrusaPrinters.org and find someone in your area who has access to materials needed to make the visors.
@jst1ofknd @Kyeh No. The visors are usually bought at some place like staples. It’s just acetate.
@jst1ofknd @Kyeh @RiotDemon At Staples or Office Depot, over with the binding supplies, there are usually fairly heavy acetate report covers that are just right for the face shield.
If the hospitals don’t, it’s possible that other first responders like the police and fire departments might…
Home health agencies too, many can get nothing because before they ordered such a small amount.
One thing I have heard is that it takes a very long time to print them…
@Cerridwyn Yeah it does take a long time. A private school around here is printing them and they can only make 10 in a day.
I might consider buying a 3D printer to print helpful things like this. Things that don’t require as much… mmm… manual aptitude…
@jst1ofknd I was thinking that too - although I’ve never done it - but it would be a good incentive to learn.
Here is someone printing a ventilator part in Italy:
Reddit is full of these threads right now. It’s awesome.
At first I thought you were talking about N95 masks, which apparently can’t be 3D-printed properly. Now that I looked at your link, I see no reason those wouldn’t work.
I just listened to a video today that made me regret not buying that 3D printer that was offered on here (or one of the sister sites) not too long ago.
This is the video:
Anyone have any idea when those printers will come back on here? If anyone knows, will it be soon enough to matter? I might go ahead and buy one if we don’t know the answer to those questions.
@MntlWard click the pic
@Ignorant @MntlWard
Can you print useful things with this? I mean for local hospitals and stuff. If the answer is yes, then I might buy it. I wouldn’t buy anything more expensive.
@jst1ofknd @MntlWard should be able to print those face shields without issue. Maximum build volume is 9" x 5.9" x 5.5" (230mm x 150mm x 140mm) so can’t print anything very large.
@Ignorant @MntlWard
I have heard that these smell. Are the fumes harmful to birds, rabbits, dogs, cats, etc.?
@jst1ofknd @MntlWard This is primarily a PLA printer and PLA is the least toxic of the printing materials, but I would still use it away from pets and people.
As far as smell, none of the PLA filaments I use have a strong odor when printing and the little smell that is there I rather like.
@Ignorant @jst1ofknd @MntlWard Is the PLA filament easy to find? I’m wondering if it’s in high demand right now.
@jst1ofknd @Kyeh @MntlWard this printer is made to use Dremel filament and a quick check of Amazon looks like there is plenty.
There are filament holder print files online so this printer can use 3rd party filament, and Amazon is also showing plenty of Hatchbox and Solutech brand filament.
The company I mainly use is Zyltech and their site does look like they are starting to run out of a lot of colors.
@Ignorant
You are showing that your username is a misnomer.
Have you found anything worthwhile to print for our current predicament?
Not necessarily these masks. They look like they take more assembly than I want to put in.
@jst1ofknd I think these or any of the other forms of these shields would be the easiest thing to print and easiest to find a home for. I know people have been printing ventilator valves but I’ve also read about those getting rejected by various hospitals.
@Ignorant Thank you very much. I had a feeling it might still be on morningsave, but I hadn’t looked yet.
/giphy spectacular fantastic expert
@MntlWard
On this evening’s news a local private school is printing masks for the hospital. They said they can print 10 a day.
@MntlWard So you got one?
@Kyeh Yeah, I got my order in.
Here’s a crowdsourcing resource for anyone who wants to let their community hospitals know they’re willing to print some parts:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QE1vzezYdf6QJwxaMMLrWIks5AYAPUeSRWXxaYd3yK8/edit#gid=587452832
@MntlWard That’s great! I’ll post that link to the Nextdoor post where I saw the original message. I’m still debating with myself about getting a printer. I’m tempted, but worried that I won’t really use it …
@MntlWard
Wow! What a great source for e-mail addresses for direct marketing and SPAM!
@jst1ofknd People are dying and you’re worried about spam. Okay.
@MntlWard
Hey now! Don’t get me wrong. If I had a 3D printer I would have already put my name on that list. Doing this work is about the only reason I could bring myself to purchase one.
you’re an all-star
@jst1ofknd Same here. I haven’t gotten one until now because I just haven’t seen the need to have one until now.