The Maker Movement Mobilizes to Create and Supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Fight Against Covid-19

Just over two weeks ago, a Facebook group called Open Source COVID19 Medical Supplies was started to connect makers across the globe with the mission of sharing design files, supplies, volunteer efforts, and requests from medical professionals in order to accelerate solutions to the many challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. In that short amount of time, the group has grown to over 56,000 members and have yielded the production of over 14,000 face shields and over 500,000 masks of various designs.

Since then, local breakout groups have been created to better connect each region’s efforts. The Central and South Florida group started by the founders of the Maker Effect Foundation now has over 125 members and is growing each day. Although many innovative solutions have arisen from the process, including affordable ventilator systems, tyvek medical suits, and various 3D printed versions of N-95 masks, the FDA approval requirements have made it difficult for hospitals to implement some of these resources quickly and effectively. The focus has now shifted to producing face shields which can be made using a combination of 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC mills (depending on the design) with PETG material that can easily be disinfected and reused by medical professionals. Many local groups have stepped up to lead the charge, scaling the production of these shields.

As the founders of Moonlighter FabLab, a local Maker Space in South Florida, we knew we needed to put our advanced fabrication equipment to work and start producing these open source designs for medical professionals who desperately need them. When we reached out to our local plastics supplier, Faulkner Plastics, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that they had already converted their space into a production facility for face shields. They have enough plastic sheet material to create over 80,000 units, are using all of their equipment to cut them out non-stop 24 hours a day and are now working with other fabrication facilities to multiply their cutting efforts. We immediately joined in and are now utilizing our laser machines to cut out the plastic shields – about 1000 every 25 hours!

Faulkner, like many other local fabrication companies, was experiencing the financial burdens of business slowing to a halt during the mandated shutdowns. By shifting their production to address the nation-wide shortage of face shields, they are not only providing a necessary piece of equipment in dire need by our medical professionals, but also providing work for their employees, as well as those of all of their partner sites! By using this distributed model, the social distancing efforts are maintained and mass production is accelerated to meet the rising demands! So far they have delivered orders to the Hialeah Fire and Police Departments and are fulfilling orders for medical professionals across the country.
Other volunteers, students, non-profits, and maker groups have also stepped in to create these critical pieces of equipment. Florida International University College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts has partnered with Baptist Health to 3D print 1000 face shields and distribute them to the 11 hospitals and more than 150 urgent care centers in their network. Atomic Carrots, a design and fabrication agency for museum interactives based in Oakland Park, FL has produced 55 heavy duty face shields and counting. Teak Isle Manufacturing in Windermere, Fl. is producing 3000 masks per day. A group of crafters in Gainesville is actively sewing outer protective coverings made of fabric, as well as another group based in Tampa Bay working on fulfilling over 6000 requests from local hospitals.

The challenges we are facing today with Covid-19 are truly unprecedented – but so too is the response that has arisen to solve them! The Maker Movement is organized and mobilized to supplement the supplies from our government resources and larger corporate factories’ efforts amid these widespread shortages during the supply-chain breakdown occurring. We are witnessing the capacity and capabilities of a distributed network of tools and talent – empowered by the collective design and engineering resources from across the globe to fabricate and implement solutions in their local regions. There are studies and reports coming out stating that many things will change in a post coronavirus society – and we’re personally excited to see the further strengthening and utilization of the Maker Movement as an essential infrastructure in our communities as one of those positive changes. The best sign of appreciation we as makers can show to our medical professionals on the front lines keeping us healthy and safe is to work just as tirelessly to supply them with the protective equipment they need.

UPDATE 04/01/2020

The NIH has a repository for approved 3D printable designs. If you have a 3D printer at home or work, use this link to create PPE for your local medical professionals: https://3dprint.nih.gov/collections/covid-19-response

If you are looking for alternative PPE or if you have PPE that you’ve created and are looking to donate, register these resources and requests on https://getusppe.org

UPDATE 04-04-2020

Central + South Florida OSCMS Group over 400 Members!