By Karin Maher
Over the past several weeks we have watched an amazing group of people in our community come together and create a network of production and distribution for home-sewn facial masks. These have been generally handed out (free of charge) to local individuals, hospitals, non-profits and city organizations.
The Mask-Makers are working hard and working together to get the people we love the safety equipment they need.
In fact, groups all across the country and world are doing this, and leaning on each other in the most incredible ways—sharing information and supplies openly and collaborating freely, and getting the job done.
It came to attention that there is a second movement getting up and running, to produce much needed PPE for essential workers, non-medical first responders, and community groups—by at-home 3D printing the equipment.
An international network who open sources on PrusaPrinters and Thingsverse (just to name two) has quickly created product, full-downloadable spec sheets, material requirements and time frames for a variety of PPE related items that can be produced at-home on 3D printers.
While this will probably not fill the voids in PPE product need, it can tremendously impact communities here and around the world, who are struggling through all of this at varying degrees of severity.
We would like to create a network, similar to that of the mask makers, of local people, families and organizations, who might be able to print these much needed products at home. The following are a Pinterest Board and a PrusaPrinters Collection of some of the current top PPE products being homemade and distributed.
https://www.prusaprinters.org/social/66016-karin-maher
Please fill out this sign-up sheet for anyone interested in any parts of this project.
Who might be interested? Here’s some folks, but definitely not limited to:
- individuals/families/groups who already have 3D printers and want help to print
- anyone who would like to be likened up with a currently unused 3D printer (if we can get this part coordinated!) to help print
- anyone who can help put together a community wish-list from currently available product designs, for specific 3D printed products needed here (or far away!)
- anyone who wants to help coordinate this project in general
- anyone who wants to help with the collection and distributing of 3D products after they are made
We are so fortunate to live a community where this type of operation seems so doable, simply because of the wonderful people who live here. The commitment to ‘WE’ as a community attitude is the best part of our foundation and is the heart of Champaign County.
Champaign County Covid 3D Printing for Individuals, Families and Organizations