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America Makes: 3D printing challenges!

22 Apr, 2020
As part of its continued effort to garner the innovation of the additive manufacturing (AM)industry to deliver safe and effective solutions to front line workers across the country, America Makes is announcing two challenges – the Fit to Face – Mask Design Challenge in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the COVID-19 Maker Challenge, a joint event by Challenge America and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Innovation Ecosystem. 

America Makes Innovation Sprint: Fit to Face-Mask Design Challenge – April 20 – 26, 2020

The America MakesInnovation Sprint:Fit to Face—Mask Design Challenge is one of two rapid response challenges being announced this week to rally the AM community to find innovation solutions in response to the COVID-19 crisis. With the Fit to Face—Mask Design Challenge, the AM design community is being rallied to help find a solution to the most critical PPE need at this time.How masks fit and conform to the shape of a user’s face has been a factor that has influenced designs.This challenge is calling on the community to collectively find a solution to this important design factor for 3D printed face masks. 

“Right now, in the fight against COVID-19 in this country and around the world, the greatest and most acute PPE need is face masks,” said America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski. “The goal of the Fit to FaceMask Design Challenge is to rapidly innovate face mask designs with quality solutions that ensure a proper fit and better seal around the face.”

Five critical geometries and dimensions used in the manufacturing of N95 masks will be made available to challenge participants for them to develop up to three masks.Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 PM on Sunday, April 26th with five designs going to the VA for fast track review and testing, and the top design(s) being announced on May 11, 2020. Interested participants can find more information at www.americamakes.us/fit2face and below. 


Challenge America and VHA Innovation Ecosystem COVID-19 Makers Challenge – April 25 –May 3, 2020

America Makes is proud to promote the COVID-19 Makers Challenge, an event being hosted jointly by Challenge America and the VHA Innovation Ecosystem. The event is calling on teams to both submit potential problems stemming from COVID-19 that face first responders and develop innovative solutions to address them.

The challenge will launch on April 25 with teams conducting weeklong virtual evaluations of challenges and culminate with a two–day virtual makeathon event May 2 – 3. During the event, teams will fabricate prototypes of their solutions that are suitable for rapid manufacturing. 

While this is a prime opportunity for the AM community to showcase their innovation, the challenge is also open to subject matter experts in engineering, industrial design, manufacturing, health care and other related industries

To find more information, register and or submit a challenge, visit www.covid19makerchallenge.com.



Click here for reference and read more information about the challenges