3D Printing to Help Combat Covid-19

With the corona virus affecting millions around the world, there has been a call to take preventative measures to stop the spread of the disease. One of these measures has been to wear face masks whenever you go out into public, however this measure is increasingly becoming harder to do with the shortage of face masks sweeping the globe. In class, we talked about 3d printing, and how you can pretty much fabricate anything if you have the right design logistics for it. Now in this time of need, many 3d printing designers and manufactures are starting to produce 3d printed masks and respirators for people to use. According to an article posted by the 3d Printing Industry, “professional AM providers, makers and designers in the 3D printing community have already begun to respond to the global crisis by volunteering their respective skills to ease the pressure on supply chains and governments” (3d Printing Industry). This illustrates the power that 3d printing can have on our lives, where it can help produce things that can help keep us safe during difficult times. It’s also just not masks and respirators that are being 3d printed to help combat Covid-19, but also needed hospital values, door handle attachments (to help stop the spread of germs), and hand sanitizer holders.

I believe that the corona virus has really started to show people the power that 3d printing can have to help make our lives easier. It has really started easing the pressure on placed on companies that are having supply-chain issues because of the virus, and it has started to produce items that everyday consumers can use as well. I believe that we are only on the forefront of what 3d printing is going to be able to do, and the coronavirus has only highlighted the benefits that 3d printing can bring. It will be interesting to see the role that 3d printing will play after the pandemic is finally over.

3D Printing Community responds to COVID-19 and Coronavirus resources

2 thoughts on “3D Printing to Help Combat Covid-19

  1. 3D Printing has really made a difference in these times for a lot of people. Being able to not just 3D print face masks, items that are being price gouged and withed from a lot of those who need them, but also ventilators to help treat those affected by the coronavirus is an incredible step for the process. Some companies are even giving away the designs for their products so that people can 3D print them and help each other out. In difficult times these little actions can go far, affecting many people. Other companies are refusing to give way the blueprints for products that could save lives, trying to keep their designs for themselves as well as the money involved. Even here though, people have created similar designs and printed them for those who need them on their own, without the companies approval. The goodwill that companies and people can create in this time should translate well after this epidemic ends; but just because it should doesn’t mean it will. It’s up to everyone to remember who helped and who refused during these times, to remember what companies gave back the stimulus checks they received that they didn’t need and those who needed bailouts after a week of being out of business even though they had billions in profits for the years prior.

    https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/17/21184308/coronavirus-italy-medical-3d-print-valves-treatments

  2. I completely agree with you that the coronavirus is showing people exactly what 3D printing is actually capable of. During class, I remember Professor Pursel talking about how not only a lot of companies were taking action with it, but Penn State was making face shield components and donating them to give them to people who need them on the front lines. It is amazing that in a time of need that people are able to come together and are finding different ways to help each other. 3D printing will soon show people that you can pretty much print anything as a prototype, or find simple uses for it, like the face shield components. Because of this, not only 3D printing will change forever but other designs/ companies will take off such as Zoom.

    Source: https://berks.psu.edu/story/15416/2020/04/06/berks-alum-designs-face-shield-component-covid-19-pandemic

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