COVID-19 PPE Solutions

COVID-19 PPE Solutions - open-source assistive technology prototype by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) community

About this project

This open source face shield was designed by faculty members at Georgia Tech, who rapidly developed and prototyped several unique and simple designs, based on direct input and feedback from healthcare workers and hospital supply chain managers. This solution is a scalable one, as well as one that anyone can produce from home using widely available materials.

The challenge

Creating a protective face shield that is quick to print, easy to assemble and that can be scaled to be manufactured in large quantities.

Who it helps

Due to COVID19, Medical facilities worldwide are facing a dire shortage of face shields, N95 masks, and other personal protective equipment. Face Shields are not a replacement for N95 masks, however they do act as a protective physical barrier for healthcare workers's faces when dealing with patients' bodily fluids. Many conventional manufacturers have suspended production to follow government-mandated social distancing or run into supply chain issues due to the disruption in the global economy. The Maker Community has committed to enacting Plan C: filling in the gap with a global network of independent DIY fabricators.

How it works

Specs.

GT focused on designing an to manufacture and assemble design. The result was:

2D Rigid Reusable Shield Mass production via laser cutting, water-jet cutting and injection molding. It can be made in smaller quantities with 3-D printing or a handheld Dremel-type tool.

The replacement film for the shield can be mass produced by laser jet cutting and die cutting. It can be produced at home by cutting the rough geometry from any available rigid film, such as office transparencies, and creating the tab features for mounting to the frame using a standard 3-hole punch set at standard width. The origami-style shield must be produced by laser cutting and/or die cutting.

Origami-Style Disposable Shield.

For the Face Shield Frame the polycarbonate (or analogous material) frame is 3/16″ thick. It is acceptable to go down to 1/8″, but 1/4″ is not ideal.

For the Face Shield the PET (or analogous material) film should be 0.004 to 0.010″ thick

Project details

The build files for COVID-19 PPE Solutions are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

Related projects

Browse all TOM projects · Search projects · TOM communities · Makeathons and events