3D printed face shields
Overview
Face shields are used by health care professionals to protect them when working with patients. Hospital supplies are running low. While they prefer to use commercially manufactured ones, in this emergency they are looking for alternative sources.
The headband portion of these shields is made on a 3D printer. If you have a 3D printer, you can make these. We have several at Maker Nexus that will be running as long as we have supplies. We need volunteers come in to service the printing. We also need volunteers to assemble the final shields. We will deliver them to local hospitals.
- Sign up to use your own 3D printer to help
- Sign up to receive face shields for your health care facility
Watch a short KTVU news report about our efforts.
Donate via Paypal to support COVID-19 response efforts by Maker Nexus.
Is there really a need?
- We've heard from friends that "nurses are cutting up plastic soda bottles to make face shields, using saran wrap on top of N95 masks to allow for multi-use."
- One local nurse said they are making face shields from cut up shower curtains and hot glue guns.
In reviewing the current design: "The nurses were over the moon about how easily the shields can be disassembled and sterilized."
We are ramping up to make 1,000 a week, maybe more.
If your health care facility needs face shields, fill in this form:
My Facility Needs Face Shields (click the link)
3D Print Parts At Home
Use Your 3D Printer for good
Sign up
We are establishing a network of 3D printer owners who can make the headbands for us. You make them and deliver them to our facility where we do the assembly and get them to the hospitals. If you want to be part of our network, fill in this form and we will contact you:
I want to help make them
Report your progress
If you've signed-up and started printing already:
Keep us updated with your print progress.
Please request permission to access the file if you're prompted to, and we'll respond as quickly as we can.
What to do with the finished product
When you have parts ready to deliver, please follow the following steps:
- Seal in plastic bag.
- Label bag with version of face shield you printed, the material printed with (Currently RC2v1 is the most up to date part) and the date you closed the bag.
- Mail to
Maker Nexus 234 E. Carribean Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94089
OR Deliver to us if you are local and it does not violate the Shelter In Place Order - please do not make a special trip for this - but if you are passing by on your way to get essential groceries and want to drop it off, that is acceptable - there is a box outside our front door where donated parts can be placed.
Please be sure you are following proper sanitation procedures when you bag parts - if possible, wear gloves and a breathing mask, wipe or spray with disinfectant if available. We want to minimize the chance of cross-contamination. After it reaches MN, we will be further disinfecting them before delivering to its end destination.
We are not in a position to supply you with filament. If we are successful at raising more money for this program, then we might be able to give you a new reel when you drop off 20 face shield sets.
3D Print Directions
Materials
PETG filament Sources
These face shields are best done with PETG filament. A 1kg spool can make about 20 units.
- Matter Hackers
- 3mm product id # MF3CF7NH 1kg about $25
- 1.75mm product id # M3MY2VQG 1kg about $24 (only $20 each if you buy 5)
- 1.75mm product id # MTVEPT25 10 pounds (4.5kg) about $185 It is a higher quality PETG filament, but is it really worth the extra cost?
PETG Sheet Sources
One 48x96 inch sheet can make about 24 shields.
- Piedmont Plastics in San Leandro, CA. .020x48x96 CLR VIVAK PETG JFM about $16/sheet.
Instructions
Printer Settings
Print with PETG for ease of sanitation - IPA, Hydrogen Peroxide, Bleach, and Acetic Acid up to 10% can all be safely used with PETG.
Print settings:
- Temperature based on filament selection.
- 3 perimeters
- 100% infill
- 0.3mm Draft settings in PrusaSlicer work fine
- we are running our Prusa's at 130% speed
Parts
We are focusing production on the Prusa RC2 headband with some modification to reduce weight and center the mounting pins, based on feedback from medical professionals. If your printer is large enough to print this design, PLEASE switch production to that. If your printer cannot accommodate that, RC1 pieces are still helpful. See below for details on each.
RC2 + MakerNexus extensions (PREFERRED)
The MakerNexus modifications are on github. Easiest is to download the release at https://github.com/hzeller/prusa-covid19-shield-remix/releases
This archive contains (next to the source files) the following files used used to print, which you also can download here:
- Ready-to-go: prusa-covid-shield-remix-print_shield_0.3mm_PETG_MK3S.gcode GCode for MK3S printer for PETG 0.3mm, 3 shells, 30% infill; printing two headbands. You can use this directly in your Prusa MK3/MK3S printer. I change the print speed to 130% on the printer and the output is still excellent. Print time ~4:30h with 130% speed.
- modify print parameters prusa-covid-shield-remix.3mf 3MF file to load in slicer. Contains support-material setup. It works in a prusa-slicer (I use version 2.2.0), but I got report that simplify3d has trouble interpreting the support material instructions.
- slice yourself prusa-covid-shield-remix-print_shield.stl The STL file. If you use this file in your slicer, you have to add support under the face-shield pins manually (there is also the prusa-covid-shield-remix-support_modifier.stl file which provides the exact block places where supports need to be if your slicer can use that).
Older Versions
RC2 : Prusa STL file
Pre-arranged to print 2 at one time.
- Prusa RC2 (x2) STL File
For other arrangements, here's the original Prusa design page.
G-codes
Direct gcode files for common printers (WIP):
- Prusa MK3S (Right click and select "Save link as". Then save as type ".gcode" -- instead of .txt -- before printing!):
RC1 : Older Prusa STL file
Pre-arranged to print 3 at one time.
- Prusa RC1 (x3) STL File
For other arrangements, here's the original Prusa design page.
Laser Cut Parts
The shields are cut from 0.020 inch thick PETG sheets. Our base design fits into sheets of 24"x32". If we get donations of larger sheets, then we cut it down before using it.
Elastic Band
Each shield uses approximately 8 inches of button hole elastic, 3/4 inch wide.
Sources
Assembly
Assembly requires about 8" of 3/4 wide button hole elastic.
- A short video on how to assemble the Maker Nexus face shield version RC2
- The original design Prusa RC2 STL- On this page
Disassembly for cleaning
These face shields can be taken apart for cleaning.
The sheets are made of PETG and can handle alcohol and UV. The head band and spreader could be made of PETG, ABS, or PLA. These all resist alcohol but are heat sensitive. We are not experts in how to sanitize equipment. You, as user, take responsibility for appropriate sanitization.
A short video on how to take the Maker Nexus face shield apart
Help at MN
At this time we do not need volunteers in the makerspace itself. The space is on lockdown so that we do not introduce the virus into our work area.
Donations Needed
- PETG filament is useful - if you aren't able to print yourself. Any color in both 1.75mm and 3mm diameter filament. It should be in a factory sealed box or in a bag with desiccant.
- 3/4"-1" button hole elastic
- 0.020" thick PETG film for disposable masks, sheets or rolls
You can drop-off the donations at Maker Nexus, just leave it in the box by the front door of Maker Nexus. Please use appropriate procedures when packaging - including wearing a new pair of gloves and a face mask if available.
You can also donate via PayPal towards COVID-19 efforts that Maker Nexus is working on. Donate via Paypal to support COVID-19 response efforts by Maker Nexus.
Who to contact
MN members join the #covid-faceshield channel on Slack
If you don't have access to Slack, please email faceshields@makernexus.org
External Links
Information & Discussions
- External slack for Prusa Shield discussions
Status
Capacity
- 5 Prusa 3D printers
- 1.75mm PETG
- each can make 8 shields a day
- 4 other type
- 3mm PETG
- each can make 3 a day
- 4 other type 2
- 3mm PETG
- each can make 3 a day
- Remote print capability
- What is our current capacity in the community? We are working that out now - so many people are volunteering!
- 3 Laser cutters
- The shields cut quickly and we are only limited by material sourcing
- Assembly is very quick, we can easily keep up
Supplies
As of 3/23/2020 1:15PM
- We have 1.75mm PETG reels to last through this week
- We are out of 3mm PETG and have more on order
- By the end of the day we will have enough PETG sheeting to make about 4,500 face shields
- We have 30 yards of button hole elastic, only enough for 135 face shields.
Summary
- If we have enough material we can make at least 65 face shields a day as of 3/23/2020.
- We currently have about 85 ready to be assembled (3/23/2020 1:15pm)
- We are waiting for final approval on the actual shield design from our health care provider partner.