As the pandemic Covid-19 spreads across the globe, several protection measures were installed, such as social distancing and isolation, travel restrictions, and the home office (work at home).
From emerging countries to developed ones have a collapse into their healthcare systems, with many overloaded and fatigued hospitals with no end-of-end expectations.
The most significant obstacle currently found in the treatment of the global pandemic of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the lack of beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in hospitals, which have special respirators since one of the biggest complications happens in lungs and causes shortness of breath in patients.
On the other side, all the world is standing in an economic crisis. Many stores and companies are closing every day, and most people are getting unemployed.
The deficiency manufactured production, intensified by global supply chain problems, is being an occasion to demonstrate the power of additive manufacturing, with 3D printers around the world being used to print locally items that have become impossible to bring in from outside.
While many effort have been successful, some of them run into intellectual property and copyright issues. Still, some initiatives have been successful.
On this blog, we will show you many examples of the use, innovations, and benefits of 3D modeling (also called digital design, rapid prototyping, or additive manufacturing) in the war against coronavirus worldwide.
A global disease.
More than 200 countries have reported cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a pandemic, which is an epidemic that is gaining a global scale. Coronavirus is a new contagious virus, and much remains to be discovered about it. Unlike those that cause the common flu, there is no known pre-immunity, vaccine, or specific treatment, and it is assumed that everyone is susceptible to it. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is very concerned about how the Covid-19 pandemic will affect the population of countries with already fragile health systems. The overload of health systems is proving to be one of the most significant impacts of the new disease, even in countries with robust medical structures. In countries with weakened structures due to lack of investment or conflicts, the burden on medical teams and facilities can have devastating results.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands frequently using soap and water or, as alternative, an alcohol-based gel.
- Keep a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a bent elbow or tissue.
- Stay home if you feel unwell.
- If you show symptoms like fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call before you leave.
- Follow the directions of your local health authority.
We must be careful and follow these directions to protect ourselves and the people that live, work and stand with us.
Why Covid-19 is a severe health and economic problem?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. It presents with a clinical picture ranging from asymptomatic infections to severe respiratory conditions.
According to the World Health Organization, most patients with COVID-19 (about 80%) may be asymptomatic. In other words, they have the virus infection but don’t expose any typical signs.
About 20% of cases may require hospital care because they have difficulty breathing, and approximately 5% of these cases may need support for the treatment of respiratory failure (ventilatory support).
With almost seven million confirmed cases and four hundred thousand of deaths, the search for a vaccine is still a difficult fight.
On the other side, the world is fighting a global economic crisis. If a country’s economy grows, it commonly means more wealth and more numerous jobs. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the global economy may have the lowest rate since 2009, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The investment market is also worried. Many investors are concerned about the impact of coronavirus around the world. Significant changes in the stock exchanges, where stakes in companies are traded, can affect investments in pension funds and individual savings. The last week of February registered the worst performance in the market since the economic crisis of 2008.
Many industries paralyzed their production to stop Covid-19 diffusion as Chinese manufacturing, and consumer goods, responsible for one-third of world exports. It has a critical impact on the supply chain of large companies, which are based on Chinese production and employs more than 300 million workers.
The fear of the outbreak also results in people choosing to avoid activities that could expose them to the risk of infection, such as going out for shopping. So, it is becoming common to see at news how many restaurants, car dealerships, and stores have been closed. Also, with the increase in the number of cases in more and more countries, many places have adopted travel restrictions to try to contain the spread of the outbreak.
An Overview About the Global Supply Chain with Covid-19 interference.
The pandemic has raised questions about some concepts related to supply chain control and is already beginning to generate changes and emerging new trends, even after the most challenging period of the crisis.
Talking about medical supplies, such as respirators, tests, and masks, it has become evident to everyone that it is a considerable risk to depend on production, almost exclusively, in a single country.
This is the most visible case today, but in reality, the pandemic’s effects are forcing several companies from different sectors, to rethink the design of their supplier network. Thus, companies, mainly multinationals, can already be seen, reducing the number of distant suppliers, from locations strongly affected by the pandemic, seeking suppliers from their respective regions. On the other hand, there is the challenge of small and medium-sized local suppliers, who face huge losses in revenue due to the sudden drop in demand, as a result of social isolation. Many of them, because they do not have an enormous “financial lung,” is on the verge of bankruptcy. This scenario is demanding an evolution in the management of supply chains, both by buyers and suppliers.
Technology X Covid-19
Products that emerge with large demand are not always part of the common market. They may not have capacity to a large scale of production. As a result of the growing demand for various items, which help prevent this unfortunate situation, several manufacturers are facing difficulties in meeting the needs of the population. Whether due to the scarcity of raw materials, high input prices, limited production capacity, among other reasons. As an alternative, investments on new technologies have been used to optimize the current fabrication process or create new ones, faster and better.
One of the greatest allies is the 3D modeling software working with 3D printers, which can provide vital medical supplies and other routine accessories.
In addition to the health sector, the technology is already used in the construction of houses, in the manufacture of helmets for sports professionals and parts for the automobile sector. It is a revolution point in the industry. The mass customization using 3D technology allows designers to take a whole new approach, reducing costs, using different materials and offer inovation to many market áreas.
We separate a lot of worldwide success cases in the battle against Coronavirus so you can see the versatility and power of this technology. Check it out.
China
The Coronavirus epidemic presents a significant challenge for China and the entire world. However, the measures taken seem to be having some success. Among several steps, is the use of technologies to help create support infrastructures, where 3D modeling also does its part.
Goggles and Accessories: One of the largest 3D printer manufacturers in the world, Flashforge, installed 200 Guider II 3D printers in Wuhan. Considered the epicenter of the pandemic, the action was necessary to produce goggles and accessories for masks.
3D printed nursery: Winsun, a digital design technology company, donated 15 3D-printed isolation wards to Hubei Xianning Central Hospital. The 3D printed nurseries, with shell structure, can accommodate two patients. These units are built with recycled cement made of urban demolition of construction waste and solid industrial waste (refuse waste and fuel waste). Due to the material’s properties, this 3D printed building has uniform strength, resistance to wind and earthquakes, as well as total insulation. According to the company, the project takes about 2 hours on a 3D printer under normal circumstances. With all support facilities for water, electricity, and the bathroom subsequently completed, an entire 3D printing nurseries can be delivered in 2-3 days, which considerably reduces the total cost.
3D printed facial mask: Currently, a cover is one of the essential accessories almost at the global level. Surely, this is the first line of protection against the epidemic —one great example of the Creality company idea. According to the creators, it is possible to 3D print a reusable face mask frame. In this way, they even advanced to the product. The 3D printed face mask was designed based on ergonomics to conform to the individual facial contour. This has advantages not only in customization but also in reuse. Also, it may be a solution to use an alternative to conventional masks. This mask can have 3D prints and disposable filter cotton (or fabric), offering people an option. This possibility is very important since conventional masks are permanently broken.
Italy
The biggest concern of health managers during the coronavirus pandemic is the capacity to treat many patients at the same time. The industry cannot manufacture the equipment needed for medical intervention at the speed that hospitals require. In Italy, 3D printers produce respirator valves in record time and save lives.
Respirator valves: A hospital in the north of the European country had 250 patients with coronavirus in intensive care, and as a result, respirator valves began to be lacking to keep those who needed oxygen alive. For its correct use, the valves need to be replaced for each patient and used for a maximum of eight hours. The printer takes about an hour to print and produce at the hospital itself by a filament extrusion system. Every 24 hours, the company manages to print 100 valves, which are donated to the hospital. The 3D printed version of the valve costs about 3 euros each. The company is working for free and does not plan to launch the equipment commercially.
“Adapted diving mask”: Isinnova, an Italian company, was contacted by Dr. Renato Favero. He shared an idea to deal with the possible shortage of hospital C-PAP masks for semi-intensive therapy caused by the spread of COVID-19. The doctor suggested the construction of an emergency breathing mask, readjusting a diving mask already on the market. Decathlon – a creator, manufacturer, and distributor of snorkel masks collaborated by providing the product digital design file. Different from the breather valve, their adjustment is easy, making it possible for all manufacturers to produce the device. Any medical team only needs to connect the mask to the source or the oxygen cylinder, acting as a ventilator. The 3D printed alternative works by performing continuous positive airway pressure. Isinnova provided 500 3D printed masks and distributed them for at least ten hospitals in different parts of Italy. Also, they left the design file open for every manufacturer to produce and help the rest of the world. Empathy and kindness is the key!
Belgium
During this pandemic time, we also know that straightforward attitudes like clean our hands and face can avoid the infection. But sometimes we don’t have the appropriate hygiene supplies. How to go into our home places without touch anything? – since the handle is touched by many people and can cause the spread of the virus. That’s easy! Materialize, software solutions, and 3D printing services company created a 3D printed accessory that allows the doors to be opened with the forearm (always covered by the sleeve). The development has the objective of being portable, so to use it, it is unnecessary to enter the door or replace the handle. Besides, Materialize released digital design online so that the product can be made on 3D printers around the world. The project has been downloaded about thirty thousand times, and the company has printed about 1,500 copies for medical clinics and hospitals.
Denmark
Robotics students from the University of Southern Denmark have produced an automatic robot to carry out throat swabs for Covid-19. The 3D printed robot swabs the patient’s throat so that healthcare professionals don’t need to be exposed to the risk of infection during the exam. The prototype has successfully performed on several people, and it is now prepared to go into operation by the end of the month. With a unique 3D printed disposable design tool, the robot operates a swab that collects the sample with saliva in the exact spot. Afterward, the robot places the swab into a glass and covers the sample. This technology provides large-scale testing as a part of any community’s reopening strategy.
Brazil
Thanks to 3D modeling and printing, brazilian researchers produced acetate masks. With this, health professionals who are in direct contact with patients infected with Covid-19 gain more excellent protection from the front line.
Giant Brazilian companies such as Petrobrás are working alongside partners to provide prototypes of mechanical ventilators to meet the growing demand for this type of equipment. The company mobilized its 3D printer to produce components and also offer an oxygen sensor that will be used in the tests to ensure the correct oxygenation level from the appliances. The intention is to develop a model that is cheaper and easier to assemble, using parts available on the market.
PSA, the controller of the Citroen and Peugeot brands, stopped producing some models of vehicles, before the quarantine, to adapt part of its facilities in Rio de Janeiro, for the manufacture of facial protectors. PPE will be donated to health authorities in the region’s cities.
The Higia project: a civil movement emerged from the disposal of 1,900 volunteers who work in 3D printing. It has the objective of assisting in the combat and control in COVID-19 through additive manufacturing. They develop facial protectors for donations to health professionals and front of care in hospitals across Brazil. It now spent seventy days receiving contributions all across the world, producing a number of 33.000 facial protectors using 3D modeling and others 47.000 by industrial injection (Brazil and worldwide).
The United States
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, announced that the iPhone maker would begin designing face shields for workers in the United States. He said Apple has already delivered a batch of face shields to the Kaiser Permanente hospital, located in the Santa Clara Valley, California. Although distribution has been limited to the US, Apple hopes to expand to countries beyond the US.
Apple added a support page to the site that provides more information about protective equipment, such as cleaning and adjusting shields. The company aspires to donate 20 million masks to help fight the spread of the virus.
Blue Origin, a company owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, has about 38 types of thermoplastics used for 3D printing displays. The face shield is attached and expanded the production of the equipment at its plant.
HP is also producing face shields – along with other equipment. The company is working with the global maker community to create more than 50,000 pieces. The technology giant also offers its 3D designs for face shields for free.
SolidFace technology versus Covid-19
Our company is engaged in society and also tries to offer a proper solution to this tough fight. Our Free CAD Software can be a start point for many companies and liberal professionals that are working to produce and develop supplies and help all the healthcare system across the globe.
Along with all the open projects previously said, SolidFace can read all file formats so you can work with. Along with all the public projects already said, SolidFace can read all file formats so you can learn and work with. Also, SolidFace has free tutorials and modules to give you a unique 3D modeling experience.
Solidface 3D is a free CAD software that gives easy-to-learn and natural 3D printer complement. It has robust features to speed the product development, reducing costs, even more, raising your return on investment (if there is any). It also enhances the way you develop and manufacture products. Our CAD packages include 100% digital design, crash and test simulation, cost estimation, manufacturability checks, sustainable design, and data management. Besides, there’s a true real-time collaboration.
Imagine how wonderful it will be to collaborate your project along with other professionals so your “worldwide” team can develop solutions against COVID-19 spread. Elaborate continuous design with real-time input from every project collaborator. Implementing customer feedback upfront can cut manufacturing costs and reduce production times. Sharing design data efficiently and collecting feedback in real-time is not possible with your conventional CAD.
Change the world with teamwork collaboration.
It does not seem that the world we are going to disembark after the pandemic is the same world we left. The Coronavirus shook the planet and isolated the population. He arrived leaving the past behind, with plans, works, commitments, and projects suspended and left us with an uncertain future. Since March 11, when WHO declared the new coronavirus pandemic, life has changed dramatically. We face one of the greatest crises in recent human history. There are thousands of victims, collapse in the health systems, a legion of unemployed, closed borders, children without classes, remote work, melted economy, and stopped industries. While humanity awaits a vaccine against the disease, we begin to experience a “new normal” – which seems to have nothing normal. The pandemic is reshaping the way we relate to the world, to others, and ourselves. The only way to contain the virus from spreading is to fight against and use the technology and people as allies.
So the SolidFace team lets our software for free download. We are developing a unique and intuitive space for teamwork collaboration for anybody who wants to learn and design projects, from students to skilled CAD professionals. Be our guest if you’re going to do more for you and the world.
