Maker initiative against COVID-19 04/25/2020

COVID-19 has severely affected daily life for the last couple of months, with everything from cancelled weddings, postponed events and muted celebrations. Healthcare workers are working overtime during this pandemic, and a major problem they face is the lack of available personal protective equipment. When the maker communities around the country learned about this, they quickly organized an initiative to help out. On the 16th of March the group “3D-printere til bistand for Helsevesenet under COVID-19” was created on Facebook, and makers quickly started producing protective visors. These visors were produced by volunteers with access to equipment like 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC-machines. They all volunteer their own time and materials, and so far the members of the group have produced and delivered over 30 000 visors to clinics and hospitals across the country.

The students at NTNU have been busy as well. We at MAKE NTNU have contributed with our 3D printers. At the Faculty of Architecture and Design’s workshop, our 3D printers, as well as 3D printers from Hackerspace NTNU and Elektra Verksted, have produced more than 1000 visors. 

The founders of the Facebook initiative have started an organization, Makers mot COVID-19, that collects money to further fund the production of visors. The organization also won the hackathon “Hack the Crisis Norway,” winning 100 000 kroner which is being used to refund members for production expenses. Several companies have also helped out during the initiative. For instance, Posten has donated 200 parcels to make sure visors could be sent to areas with few local makers.

If you would like to help or have a 3D printer available, you can sign up as a volunteer on the organizations website at makersmotcovid19.no.

We at MAKE NTNU hope to reopen our doors next semester, but in the meantime; remember to wash your hands and take care of each other.