For the record: This is the IDEA stage; however, we're on a war footing and it's "all hands on deck". How can we help?

Read this: http://on.nbcboston.com/pmdTl47

Thoughts and needs:
> Buy 3D printer and start making masks
> Any other 3D printable PPE or needed equipment?

Questions (I'm personally researching too, not just having TexAgs answer my questions):
> Which 3D printer do I buy?
> How do we do this?

Found this FB page:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/200568277867763/#_=_

A mask design:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4225667

Looks like a good idea.

I have seen other products needed in hospitals like a respirator valve that they ran out of.

Looking to make these for hospitals

Check the comments. Someone mentioned that it won't be effective due to the porosity of 3D printed material and the size of the virus. No idea if true, but it's worth contemplation. I might print one of these for yard work, though!

I would not think that masks are high on the list of things to 3D print. Even a high end printer could probably crank out 2-3 masks a day.

3M has a plant that can crank out thousands.

https://www.deaconess.com/SpecialPages/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask?fbclid=IwAR3JWboevd5G7EXXUbJftrs1xs4ROY0QLItUFJOF3g1LloP_a66Y4yIjWTM

Great tutorial on how to sew masks

https://blog.prusaprinters.org/from-design-to-mass-3d-printing-of-medical-shields-in-three-days/

gigemags87 said:

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https://blog.prusaprinters.org/from-design-to-mass-3d-printing-of-medical-shields-in-three-days/

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Very good info.

"printing respirators might not be the best idea at this time."

"In our research, we've been looking for other protective gear, which we can produce safely and the one we have focused on is a protective face shield for medical professionals."

Anyone have a printer recommendation?

Anything from Prusa is very high quality - I have the Prusa MK3s. I've also had good luck with the Ender 3.

Any progress on this? Message from medical friend...... We need surgical masks and N95 masks

valtosca said:

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Anyone have a printer recommendation?

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Prusa was the one to get until the Ender-3 hit the market (last year?). Ender-3 Pro is available for $200 and is easy, reliable, and has a large print volume. This is the go to recommendation if you ask this question in Reddit or Facebook 3D printing groups.

I dabbled in printing over the last five or so years, but I was never willing to commit more than a couple of hundred to a printer. As such, they all sucked. I now have two Ender-3 Pros chattering away 24/7 and I print commercially.

Do you think these would be viable?
If so, I will pitch the College of Engineering at TAMU to get on this as a project.

I can guarantee I know of 40-50 3D printers doing nothing at this time...and probably won't for the rest of the semester.

I will make a prototype tomorrow using a high quality 3D printer in our lab, however, I will not be able to acquire the filter media...

Can a 3D printer make a viable N95 mask?

According to the thread above...the two problems are the filter media and the non-conforming aspect of a solid mask....

I cannot help on the filter side, however, I am willing to bet you could use a variety of material to create an adequate seal on these masks. Also, these masks may be washable (up to a certain number of times) with only the replacement filters being needed after.

Lastly, it looks like they are also asking for face shields using a simple 3/4 piece design that can be manufactured easily.


If this thing hits Houston, San Antonio, Austin, the way it is hitting other places, this could be a big deal to have ready for production.

How many engineers do we have on TexAgs? We cannot 3D print a mask with brackets on it that we can slide a filter into?

Jim,

There are a few designs coming from across the pond for the masks, as well, including side lot media replacement.

Although everything is shut down, if there was a local short supply, or if Houston got hit especially hard, I wonder if the CoE or Eng Depts would be willing to take on this project.

From what the above links in Massachusetts and New England say, they all need face shields and viable mask replacements. Seems like this would be the case in any urban area.

The face shield design seems to be approved for hospital use, but the masks to do need improvement.

Comgrow Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer with Removable Build Surface Plate and UL Certified Power Supply 220x220x250mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GYRQVYV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3oNDEbEQWWDQ4

This one?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/opensourcecovid19medicalsupplies/

Yes took me about an hour to assemble and prints right away. I watched this video and didn't need to refer to the instructions.

Okay, we've ID'ed a printer.

Is there a need? Seems shields would be the most viable option. Really close to pulling the trigger on a printer.

Anyone have any information on the mask shortage? I saw on the political board that Washington was looking for people who could sew masks. Curious if Texas is in the same position.

They do not have the need yet.

The idea is to be ready for a large metropolitan area to go into a shortage...

AgED said:

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https://www.deaconess.com/SpecialPages/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask?fbclid=IwAR3JWboevd5G7EXXUbJftrs1xs4ROY0QLItUFJOF3g1LloP_a66Y4yIjWTM

Great tutorial on how to sew masks

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My wife saw this pattern and wants to make masks. Do you know if anyone around BCS is accepting them for use?

Builder93 said:

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AgED said:

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https://www.deaconess.com/SpecialPages/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask?fbclid=IwAR3JWboevd5G7EXXUbJftrs1xs4ROY0QLItUFJOF3g1LloP_a66Y4yIjWTM

Great tutorial on how to sew masks

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My wife saw this pattern and wants to make masks. Do you know if anyone around BCS is accepting them for use?

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They are recommending using bandanas when it comes down to it. I'm sure your local hospital would be more than happy to have them. Or you could simply ship them to a NY hospital

I would take some for my clinic. We are wearing our masks for up to 3 days if possible to conserve.

We got ahold of some universal N95s that we have out to our pregnant nurses & other staff members. Masks are getting critical.

Thankfully a local distillery in FW started making hand sanitizer & delivered some to my clinic Friday.

Is there actually a shortage of surgical masks also? Or just N95s?

Aries said:

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I would take some for my clinic. We are wearing our masks for up to 3 days if possible to conserve.

We got ahold of some universal N95s that we have out to our pregnant nurses & other staff members. Masks are getting critical.

Thankfully a local distillery in FW started making hand sanitizer & delivered some to my clinic Friday.

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Home Depot dropped some N95's off at our station