Introduction
Markforged understands that the 3D printer is one of the most powerful and flexible tools an engineer can bring to the fight against coronavirus. That is why Markforged is pledging to support the creation of 20,000 face shields around the globe by providing material to qualifying organizations. With their customers and partners combined, they have more than 10,000 globally distributed, cloud-connected industrial printers to contribute to the effort.
Their Action Plan
Testing
Knowing the location of the virus is the first step in stopping it, and we need to rapidly scale the volume of testing.
Rapid PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)
We need to keep our frontline fighters safe and healthy during the initial wave so they can keep fighting.
Robust PPE
We need more durable solutions that can be worn for long periods of time, reused, and provide full protection.
Patient Devices
Based on the experience of other geographies, we expect critical shortages of life-saving patient devices such as ventilators. We are trying to predict bottlenecks and creatively design around them.
Supply Chain/Workflow Optimization
In a fight like this, it’s all manufacturers on deck to supply critical items. Leveraging approaches such as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), industrial 3D printers can quickly optimize supply chains and remove blockers. As factory lines pivot and ramp, we are standing by, ready to assist any manufacturer who needs help.
Their Solutions
Fiberflex: 3D Printed Nasal Testing Swabs
Markforged assisted in the development of the Fiberflex Rayon swab to help ramp up COVID-19 testing. Fiberflex Rayon is a 3D printed wrapped nylon non-sterile absorbent tip applicator. The Fiberflex swab was made possible from the collaboration between the Harvard Army Collaboration, Markforged, the San Diego COVID Research Enterprise Network (SCREEN) initiative, Neurophotometrics, Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego, the Scripps Research Institute, and the University of California San Diego.
3D Printed Face Shields
Markforged engineers have designed a reusable face mask consisting of a 3D printed frame, a shield cut from PETg, foam tape, and an off-the-shelf elastic band. Any Markforged 3D printer can produce the reusable face mask, and the transparent shield can be removed and replaced in less than 30 seconds for convenience for the wearer. Markforged has created 500+ face shields, and its partners and customers have produced 4,400+ more, which have been distributed to local hospitals and first responders.