- The makers mobilized, voluntarily, to help caregivers faced with the shortage of protection against the Covid-19.
- These 3D printing enthusiasts and Do It Yourself have produced hundreds of thousands of protective visors, but also connectors for ventilation devices, syringe pumps or anti-contamination systems to open doors.
- The makers "have shown that they were the first R & D office in the world by its responsiveness, flexibility and inventiveness", welcomes Yann Marchal, administrator of the Facebook Makers group against the Covid.
A movement of national scope! Since the start of the health crisis, makers, those keen on 3D printing and DIY, have mobilized, voluntarily, in the face of the lack of protection against Covid-19. Protective visors, connectors for ventilation devices, syringe pumps, anti-contamination systems for opening doors, etc. The makers were not idle during confinement.
The French Fablab Network thus estimates that more than 250,000 visors have been delivered via its production laboratories, Visière solidaire by Anthony Seddiki has more than 300,000 visors distributed by its network, Covid3d.fr counts more than 75,000, according to the figures relayed by Care News.
This is without counting the “400,000 visors produced” by the Facebook group Makers against the Covid, according to the estimate of its administrator, Yann Marchal. The group which brought together 487 members in mid-March now has more than 4,600. These first estimates are missing figures from the Just One Giant Lab platform and the Entraide Maker Discord.
"The mobilization of French makers is unprecedented"
"The mobilization of French makers is unprecedented, it is time for the state and public authorities to realize it," say the makers in a common forum, published on April 21. All of this equipment was provided free of charge to carers. Aware of the expenses generated by this mobilization, certain regions have implemented aid. Brittany, for example, has provided makers with an envelope of 30,000 euros, which will allow the three heads of Breton networks (the Labfab of Rennes, the fablab of the Fabrique du Loch, and the ENSTA Bretagne in Brest) to place orders grouped.
The regional council of the Center-Val-de-Loire region "offers structures, such as Fablabs and associations, reimbursement of consumables, that is to say the filament, up to 1,500 euros, as well as an envelope of 4,000 euros to cover 80% of the investment, ”explains Yann Marchal. This aid does not concern individuals who have invested and advanced cash.
"We have no more money since we gave everything"
The catch? “We have no more money since we gave everything. Some have started to make pots. But that does not cover the needs, ”says Yann Marchal. And to recall: "We want to keep giving. It is important that we give and that we do not sell because we work under a Creative Commons license. "
And makers still have filament on the board! “There is a high demand for barrette systems to relieve the ears at the level of tension of the elastic bands” of the masks, he explains. Systems that seamstresses also offer.
Another problem faced by makers. "We are dealing with a regulatory problem, our visors must meet standards and to have our visors certified, it is 1,600 euros," explains the administrator of the Makers group against the Covid.
"We have overcome an essential need that the State has not been able to cover"
What next for the maker movement after May 11? "Many will stop because they will go back to work," notes Yann Marchal. While their "objective was to help caregivers", makers are crumbling under the demands of individuals and businesses. "Many refer companies' requests to professionals, who themselves charge for the visors," he explains.
And to continue: “The movement is not dead. We think about the rest because this mobilization was just incredible! We did a hell of a job, we were able to make ourselves useful and we met an essential need that the State could not cover, "he says.
And to underline that all the makers in the world during the health crisis "have demonstrated that they were the first R & D office in the world by its reactivity, flexibility and inventiveness. We are millions in the world to reflect and to share our ideas, no company has this strength! "
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- Covid 19
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