3D-printer companies build face shields, masks, more to fight coronavirus
The 3D-printing industry is accelerating its efforts to help fight the new coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.
On Tuesday, HP announced it's working with those who bought its 3D printers to make medical face shields, hands-free door openers and an adjuster for face masks for medical staff who often must wear them for hours. It's also testing "hospital-grade" face masks meeting the higher-end FFP3 (filtering face piece) standard and parts for simple emergency ventilators. And it's looking into nasal swabs to test for COVID-19 infection. HP also is offering free downloads of its 3D-printed medical equipment designs.
Carbon, a startup whose 3D printers are used to make everything from bicycle seats to teeth straighteners, said it plans to send face shield designs to its network of customers who've bought its 3D printers. Carbon co-founder and Executive Chairman Joseph DeSimone said on Monday the company expects to send the designs by early Tuesday.
3D-printer makers typically sell their products to others that actually do the 3D printing. One such customer, Ford, said Tuesday that it's made 1,000 face shields and shipped them to Michigan hospitals, with plans to make 100,000 face shields a week. It also is working with 3M and General Electric on respirator masks and ventilator designs.
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