Face Masks
In addition to the splash-resistant surgical
masks requested by health workers, plain fabric
masks are currently CDC-recommended for
everyone, to contain coughs and sneezes. The
OSMS group has approved several designs for
DIY production, including the MakerMask Surge
(shown here), made of nonwoven fabric from
grocery bags (makermask.org/masks/surge).
Local groups, like those affiliated with Relief
Crafters of America (facebook.com/groups/
reliefcraftersofamerica), are connecting with local
medical professionals to get the right projects
done and into the right hands. Some hospitals
put out kits that include all materials you need
to produce masks; after assembly, a designated
collector picks them up.
As has become common with Covid-19, many
general materials for these masks are now
in short supply. Makers are producing novel
solutions in response. Simple 3D-printable bias
tape jigs (thingiverse.com/thing:4232886) have
become a useful tool for helping fold over fabric
strips used as ties. The CDC has even circulated
a diagram of how to fold a bandana with a coffee
filter inside as a makeshift option (makezine.com/
go/bandana-facemask).
3D printing has also been useful for making
“ear savers” (thingiverse.com/thing:4249113) that
connect a surgical mask behind the head, rather
than around each ear (which can result in pain
and injury after hours of use).
Laser cutters are being used with freely
distributed templates (makezine.com/go/laser-
face-mask) to cut large batches of mask profiles,
allowing for quicker assembly.
Groups and individuals are also examining the
properties of various materials that can be used
for face masks and respirator filters. Camron
Blackburn is documenting her filtration research
at MIT, even electron-scanning different options
to determine which work best (camblackburn.
pages.cba.mit.edu/filter_media).
MakerMask.org
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DIY PPE Rockstars
Respirators
Like face shields and masks, N95 respirator
masks too have become scarce, and the 3D
printing community similarly has responded with
designs for printed versions.
Experts have indicated maybe this isn’t such an
easy fix. Printed masks present real challenges:
• Plastic from your standard filament-based
printer is porous and difficult to sterilize. It’s
generally not recommended for medical uses
because it harbors bacteria.
• The rigid nature of 3D prints makes it difficult
to ensure a proper seal to your face. And if a
respirator mask isn’t sealed to your face, what
good is it anyway?
Some in the community have warned that a 3D
printed mask is a liability. “If you absolutely insist
on printing a mask now, treat it like it is a basic
surgical mask and not as a true respirator with
all the protections they provide,” advises Josef
Prusa. “A false sense of security can be very
dangerous.” Others respond that even a non-
perfect mask is likely better than nothing.
Some medical facilities have now begun
accepting certain 3D printed masks. These have
not gone through the NIH approval process, but
local hospitals have assessed them and decided
to give them a try.
The Montana Mask (makethemasks.com)
is being printed in homes and businesses and
used at hospitals in Montana, Texas, California,
and other states. This simple design (shown
above) allows for a replaceable filter material (a
key aspect), and uses a gasket made of rubber
window weatherstripping to provide a seal to your
face. The MakerMask out of Seattle is another
3DP mask (see page 39) but it’s more complex.
Since his early warning, Prusa has published
scientific testing to show which methods work
(and which don’t) for sterilizing prints made of
PETG. Technically you can sterilize a 3D printed
mask. The Covid-19 Healthcare Coalition offers
their own insights into PPE production and
sterilization at c19hcc.org/insights.
Throughout April, we’ve seen new respirator
designs appearing every day, including a simple
mold for casting respirators out of silicone
at home and an NIH-approved 3DP mask,
developed by 3D Systems and the Veterans Health
Administration, using a fancy SLS nylon powder
printer for medical use.And, in a sign of where all
3DP masks may be heading, the Montana Mask
has been adapted for injection molding.
—Caleb Kraft and Mike Senese
COMBATING COVID-19 Maker Countermeasures
makethemasks.com
44 make.co
G.Chang, Kendi Maristela, Deeplocal, AmboVent
MAKE, FIGHT, WIN
You too can produce PPE and other Covid-busting
gear! Make all these projects, and many more,
right now at makezine.com/go/the-big-list.
—Keith Hammond
HAND SANITIZER
Keep those paws clean, cats and kittens.
• WHO-recommended Hand Rub — It’s just
glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, and lots of ethanol
or isopropyl alcohol. For a big batch, see who.int/
gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf. For a
home-sized batch, see youtu.be/I-e9AEaz0FQ.
PROTECTIVE SUITS AND GOWNS
Full-body protection for workers at the front lines.
• PS-1 Open Source Protective Suit — Michelle
Dulce in Manila reverse-engineered an isolation
suit and created a sewing guide; Alex Crease from
Boston created DXF files for machine cutting.
OSMS says use Tyvek 1433R fabric and follow
DuPont’s method of heat-sealing the seams.
STERILIZATION
Sanitize and reuse protective gear.
• YouVee: A DIY UV-C Irradiation Cabinet — With
$50 and one trip to the home improvement store,
build this ultraviolet light cabinet to zap the virus
and sterilize N95 masks and other gear. Easy
project uses a germicidal UV-C bulb, an ordinary
work lamp, and aluminum foil tape. Developed by
Deeplocal in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; build it at
makezine.com/projects/build-a-diy-uv-c.
EMERGENCY VENTILATORS
Inflate/deflate lungs of patients unable to breathe.
• AmboVent Emergency Ventilation System —
Designed by Israel’s national emergency service,
military, and leading hospitals, the AmboVent was
open sourced on Github on April 1 and is rated
one of the best open source options by Robert
Read (see page 33). It compresses a manual
bag valve mask (BVM) automatically using an
Arduino Nano, SparkFun pressure sensor, and
snowblower motor, and can be built in a typical
makerspace for about $500.
Hand sanitizer, official WHO recipe
PS-1 Open Source Protective Suit
YouVee: DIY UV-C Irradiation Cabinet
AmboVent Emergency Ventilation System
45
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COMBATING COVID-19 Homeschooling
Homeschool
How-To
46 make.co
A quick primer for all the families now
educating kids at home
Written by Bob, Christine, and Jonathan Pappas
I
n August of 2016, our three kids Jonathan,
David, and Sophia were enrolled in three
different schools with three different schedules.
Our evenings and weekends were spinning with
everyone moving in different directions. By May,
we knew we were ready for a change. We had
been homeschooling one child already, but not
satisfied with our approach. After attending an
experiential-learning workshop, all kids excitedly
jumped on board with homeschooling!
At first, my husband Bob and I began filling up
their schedules with exciting classes, activities,
and sports, giving them little time to breathe and
work on their passions. After a couple of months,
we realized this was a mistake. With the help of
our mentor, we created a homemade plan for our
children’s education. After identifying interests,
talents, and skills, we went to work locating
mentors, resources, and classes to help them
gain needed skills. We also protected the time
they needed to be makers.
Our homeschool has not only been filled
with a variety of educational learning
experiences, but also and equally important
— our days have the much needed time to be
thinkers, dreamers, idea-discoverers, creators,
makers, and world changers!
For everyone that’s been suddenly thrust into
this position: You have been given extra time
with your children. Make the most of it! This is a
chance to look for the blessings in this extra time
and be explorers and creators. To think outside
the box and have “aha” moments. To be the
producers, be the builders, be the makers.
BOB AND CHRISTINE
PAPPAS are life-long learners.
Bob is a software engineering
leader at Apple and Christine enjoys
writing and performing music.
JONATHAN PAPPAS is an
18-year old maker and maze
enthusiast. Check out his
MazeJam app and maze artwork
at UnusuallyBrilliant.com.
Pappas family
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