Last update 5/14/2020
Hello Makers!
As of 5/13/2020, we have been informed by our local hospitals that they have been caught up on their face shield supply. We have been asked to be on standby until there is a need for face shields again. For now, we have cleaned up shop and will begin to work on developing virtual programs for members of Maker Works.
We will continue to leave the files and instructions to make face shields, face masks and ear savers on this page in case anyone you know may need this PPE. Because Operation Face Shield has also declared they will be on standby, we have removed our drop off bin at Maker Works. Thank you to everyone who participated in making PPE at home and a very special thank you to all those who have helped make PPE production at Maker Works possible. With only 3-5 staff volunteers in shop, we were able to make 7,501 face shields at Maker Works since March 29th. These face shields were donated to U of M, St. Joe’s, Beaumont, Huron Valley Pace, Corner Health, Arbor Hospice and other affiliated nursing homes, Heartland Senior Living Healthcare Center, Food Gatherers, Detroit Street Care, Costco, Huron Valley Mutual Aid, Ypsi Pantry and Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights. Thank you to all the essential workers who are bravely going to work everyday so we can be safe and healthy.
A big shout out to:
- Engage at EMU(Eastern Michigan University)
- University of Michigan: Medical School, Office of Technology Transfer, Libraries, and COVID-19 Response Team
- Branson Electronics, Sterling Heights
- Factory Two, Flint
- AHA! (All Hands Active), Ann Arbor
- Protect-MI(protect-mi.org), Operation Face Shield, and the multitude of people 3D printing headbands and donating and laser cutting shield material
- Sensitile, Ypsilanti
- Midwestern Software Solutions - MS2 and Josh Eshbrooks, Ann Arbor
- Ann Arbor Sewing Center and Becky Steider Grover
- Warehouse workers at Alro Plastics, Jackson
- Al, Beth, Bob, Mike, Dulce, Irene, KC, Kirstin, Larry, Marty, Pamela, Tim, Dale, and Tom from Maker Works!
- The wonderful mysterious people who have been dropping off materials at Maker Works!
PPE THAT WE HAVE MADE WITH HOSPITAL APPROVALS:
Feel free to continue making these for people you know who need them.
Sewn Fabric Face Masks
You can continue to check and see what local medical facilities need:Saint Joe’s - https://www.stjoeshealth.org/about-us/news-and-media/saint-joseph-mercy-health-system-continues-to-welcome-community-donations
Michigan Medicine - https://giving.medicine.umich.edu/covid-19
If you’re working in another area of the country, check what designs are acceptable there. NIH has a site with a number of different face shields that have received their overall approval at https://3dprint.nih.gov/collections/covid-19-response.
As time goes on and other types of PPE are needed, we will try to support this production. The key points are:
Requested by a hospital or health provider
Approved design
Available materials
Available tools/machines
People with skills
Channel for getting into the hospital
Requests for access to Maker Works for prototyping or production of PPE can be made to membership@maker-works.com. Access is very limited in accordance with the Governor’s orders.
WHAT MAKER WORKS HAS DONE:
Collaborated with the lead of the COVID-19 Response Team in the Engineering Department. We worked directly with the U of M hospital to design and fabricate UM-approved face shields and face mask adjusters (laser cut and CNC). These were donated to UM, St. Joe’s, Beaumont hospitals and other health care facilities. Special appreciation to Branson Ultrasonics in Sterling Heights, MI for their loan of an ultrasonic welder. Visit our Facebook page for updates.
Assisted Protect-MI (nonprofit organization) and Operation Face Shield (Facebook group) as a drop-off and finishing (adding screens) station for 3D printed face shield bands.
Assisted Ann Arbor Sewing Center in their sewn fabric face masks initiative, by creating pre-cut fabric kits. Ann Arbor Sewing Center distributes the finished masks.
We have a separate newsletter for PPE-making news. Sign up here:
Face Shields
(Updated 5/14/2020) In collaboration with the COVID-19 Response Team in the engineering department working directly with the U of M hospital, as well as the PPE donations centers, we have an approved laser-cut face shield design.
3D PRINTING FACE SHIELD BANDS
Operation Face Shield - organizing the 3D printed face shield initiative, has design and material requirements on the Protect-MI site.
U-M Face Shield - COVID-19 PPE Specifications
Please note:
Print the latest 3-peg design, which is available at Protect-MI and U-M Face Shield - COVID-19 PPE Specifications
Band must be made of ABS, PETG or PLA
Bands (and shields if you attach one) should be neatly labeled with material type—e.g., “PLA” on a 3D printed PLA headband, “Polyester” on a polyester shield. Silver Sharpie marker seems to work well on a variety of surfaces and colors.
Take a look at the face shield production that took place at Maker Works! If you want to know how to start this type of production in your area, please email frontdesk@maker-works.com
Face Mask Adjusters
(Updated 5/14/2020) Healthcare providers have asked for face mask adjusters because the straps of their face masks have been rubbing against the backs of their ears. If you have a 3D printer or laser cutter, you can get started making these right away!
To view specs in further detail, please visit this page: https://specs.engin.umich.edu/u-m-face-mask-adjusters/
3D PRINT FILES
Feel free to print either of these designs that are recommended by U of M.
LASER CUT FILE
Fabric Face Masks
(Updated 5/14/2020) Essential workers and some hospitals are accepting fabric masks, no matter if you are using fabric ties or elastic ties! There are now so many great patterns out there, that they are not limiting it to the early pattern we posted. The key elements to remember are:
Finished edges only by the face - this will hopefully prevent workers from touching their face.
They must stand up to repeated washing, so don’t include filter material.
If you want to make a pocket so they can insert their own filter, that is fine.
Use 100% quilting cotton to make the masks, no flannel or knits. (Elastic is not necessary, nor desired.)
Please put the masks in a clean, plastic ziplock bag
Do not bring masks to hospital. They don't want people dropping off homemade masks.
Please put them in the drop off bin at Ann Arbor Sewing Center. They are sorting for appropriate masks to take to the hospital. (Masks made with wire, coffee filters etc are not being accepted at the hospital. They are being sent to other facilities that will take them though.)
Do NOT bring homemade masks to University of Michigan Hospital. They are not accepting them.
Becky Grover is making kits. The new ones will include a flat twill ribbon so you no longer have to make your own fabric ties, while supplies last. This will greatly increase the ease and speed of construction!
St. Joe passed along that they are so appreciative of our efforts; please keep sewing if you can. The Ann Arbor Sewing Center and other local businesses are leading this effort. Visit The Ann Arbor Sewing Center on Facebook for some happy photos of recipients!
FACE MASK TEMPLATES & SOP
Video instructions: https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/03/18/coronavirus-deaconess-ask-public-provide-medical-face-masks/2865273001/
Becky Grover also made SOPs for the Deaconess design:
and this is an approved design:
Tip to speed up making bias tape (no tools or ironing needed): https://youtu.be/vR7sWFwo48g
Message from the Ann Arbor Sewing Center on 3/23/2020:
The masks are still desperately needed. Some organizations will not accept homemade masks but others are in great need of them. St. Joseph Hospital does have a contract to have masks shipped to them but they still need our homemade masks. If we get to a point that they do not need the masks, We have several other health care facilities that are begging for them... for health care workers as well as high risk people. Please keep making them! The CDC basically says that homemade masks are better than nothing. They are also using our homemade masks to cover the N95 masks so they last longer.
Another hint: Make sure to use a different patterned fabric for the two sides of the mask. This allows the health worker to know what side was used.
IF YOU WANT TO SEW
You can pick up face mask kits to sew at your home at Becky Grover's house. You can call in advance to make sure there are still kits left before making the trip over. The hospital will sterilize all the masks so washing them is not required but it can't hurt. However, if you have an animal that sheds, and are making them in your home, please DO wash/ dry them. All face masks should be put in a ziplock bag. Pick up and drop off locations for the masks are different!
Pick up Location
Address: 511 Little Lake Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, 48103
Phone: 734-417-4451 (between 10am and 6pm only, please)
Pick up instructions: Park in the lot and walk up to the unit. There will be a plastic bin with the kits on the front porch.
Drop off location
Ann Arbor Sewing Center
Address: 5235 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Drop off instructions: There is a blue drop off box at the back of the store. With the new stay home orders, please drop them off while you are on your way to the grocery store or running essential errands. If you are unable to drive by the store you can mail them to Alisa Soos who will deliver the masks to St. Joes.
Alisa Soos’ mailing address: 9001 Potterville, Willis, MI, 48191
IF YOU WANT TO DONATE FABRIC
Must be quilting cotton fabric and you must wash it before donating. You can drop off your donation at Becky's house or the Ann Arbor Sewing Center.
IF YOU WANT TO CUT FABRIC
Please cut washed quilting fabric to 6" x 9" rectangles and drop these off at Becky Grover's house. When you arrive, park in the lot and walk up to the unit. There will be a plastic bin on the front porch.
Surveying our Members
In the event we learn of other PPE that can be fabricated at member homes or, perhaps, in the shop, we have the following survey of tools and skills among our members: