Design + Production = Protection

Since the novel coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, facial protection is mandatory for doctors and other medical staff who aid in the treatment of the sick but need to stay healthy. Two items are visible in the many news photos of workers in hospitals and at COVID-19 testing sites: an N95 respirator and a plastic face shield. The first fits snugly around the mouth and nose to filter airborne particles, while the second further protects the eyes and other parts of the face not covered by the mask. This second layer of defense is what Nagami Design is producing with its robotic equipment.

Specifically, Nagami Design is focused exclusively on producing face shields based on the open-source Prusa design. While that model can be reproduced by 3D printers, Nagami Design developed a robotic version that can print 500 masks per day — seven times more than a desktop 3D printer. Technically, "the masks are produced through robotic extrusion in a layer-by-layer FDM (fused deposition modeling)," per a statement from Nagami Design. "The material used is a PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) which is durable, tough, 100% recyclable, and has robust chemical resistance and high-impact strength." The company has focused its efforts on the local Hospital Provincial de Ávila but will be expanding to nearby Madrid and other regions of Spain. Not surprisingly, inquiries are coming in from the United States, Italy, France, and other countries hit hard by COVID-19.