Volunteers Use 3D Printers to Make Personal Protective Equipment During Pandemic

Volunteers Use 3D Printers to Make Personal Protective Equipment During Pandemic
A 3D printer makes a plastic extender for surgical masks in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 14, 2020. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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TORONTO—Groups of volunteers across Canada are using 3D printers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential supplies at a breakneck speed—an effort some say could have a lasting impact even after the COVID−19 crisis passes.

These “makers” are volunteering their expertise, time, and tools to produce gear used on the front lines of the fight against the pandemic, drawing on open-source designs and creating their own.