Free N95 masks for local hospitals ....

[Paul Campbell]

Anyone here in Dunedin bought a 3D printer from Creality? They are giving away
N95 masks to past customers to hand on to their local hospitals - if so please
sign up on behalf of all of us

https://creality.com/art/subcribe-to-get-free-n95-masks-41.html

thanks
Paul

[Alex King]

Paul, I cant find you on Facebook, perhaps that's a deliberate move on your part.  Nor Ian.  There is a big move to print medical supplies, there are 30K people in this group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opensourcecovid19medicalsupplies/  including e.g. (sorry for shouting) WE HAVE RELEASED V1.1 OF OUR OPEN SOURCE MEDICAL SUPPLIES GUIDE.  Mostly it's facemasks I think.  But I also saw someone musing about the feasibility of making more technical medical equipment (e.g. ventilators)

I'm sure you're not unaware this stuff via whatever channels.

Any thoughts on Dunedin Makerspace doing some prepping for the (perhaps unlikely) scenario that things start getting away on the medical authorities in Dunedin?

Cheers,
Alex

[Paul Campbell]

On Sunday, 22 March 2020 9:05:48 AM NZDT 'Alex King' via Dunedin MakerSpace
wrote:

> Paul, I cant find you on Facebook, perhaps that's a deliberate move on
> your part. Nor Ian.

Facebook is not part of my life, thank goodness

> There is a big move to print medical supplies,
> there are 30K people in this group:
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/opensourcecovid19medicalsupplies/
> including e.g. (sorry for shouting) WE HAVE RELEASED V1.1 OF OUR OPEN
> SOURCE MEDICAL SUPPLIES GUIDE. Mostly it's facemasks I think. But I
> also saw someone musing about the feasibility of making more technical
> medical equipment (e.g. ventilators)

As I understand it (now) NZ has lots of masks and the capability of making
200k/day - might be best to leave that offer for people in some other country
to take up.

The face shields from Prusa seem like a more tractible thing to offer to make -
the prusa design seems like something we could do

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

Building our own vents is a much more difficult and dangerous option, there seem
to be two sets of thoughts on that, some people are all gung-ho, others think
it might kill more people than it will save (I tend to be with this second
group) - I think we peopbably need to see some actual professionals who
understand all the issues to get involved and guide makers who can provide
their expertise

Paul

[Alex King]

Yes, after a bit further of my own research I'm also coming to the
conclusion that face shields may be a good fit for the type of things we
could usefully do.

I have also seen designs for face shields coupled with a blower to act
as a positive pressure respirator.  E.g. this type of thing
https://hackaday.com/2007/05/25/diy-powered-respirator/ although i can't
find the more relevant links right now.

I certainly hope our curve is flattened and our health system and
critical supply lines keep up.

Some countries are seeing exponential growth with a doubling time of 2-3
days.  We are in a good position as of now.  But were things to go bad
it would happen very quickly.  I'm wondering if this is an opportunity
for makerspace to be doing community organizing and prep just in case.

Perhaps more importantly that making medical or PPE type equipment, the
simple process of community organizing at makerspace/valley workspace
may prove helpful in that we may be better placed to respond to whatever
needs evolve.

Cheers,
Alex