Made In Space, the Jacksonville-based space manufacturing company, is using its technology to provide supplies to health care workers.
Its facilities in Jacksonville and Moffett Field, California, are using their additive manufacturing technology to use 3D printing to make face shields for area hospitals to help with the shortage health care centers are seeing nationwide.
Without proper personal protective equipment, health care workers are at a higher risk of exposure to the virus.
“In times of crisis it is important for everyone to come together and we have an obligation to support those on the front lines,” said Made In Space Chief Engineer Michael Snyder. “Our team is using every available 3D printing resource we have to produce face shields to support our local healthcare personnel.”
Made In Space manufactured more than 200 shields in the past five days. Hospitals in Jacksonville and Mountain View, California, will receive the equipment.
The design includes a 3D printed frame with an adjustable headband, which allows the clear plastic shield to snap onto the frame.
In Jacksonville, Made In Space engineers are working with area doctors to develop a rapid response ventilator adapter, which would allow a single ventilator to support multiple patients at a time.
Made In Space announced in January it would relocate its corporate headquarters to Jacksonville from Silicon Valley. In July, it received a $73 million contract to demonstrate Archinaut, the company’s autonomous robotic manufacturing and assembly platform, on a flight mission.
Made In Space was founded in 2010 in Mountain View, California. Its Jacksonville headquarters is at 8226 Philips Highway.