As part of the institutional commitment of the University of Cauca in support of the containment of the COVID19, the University of Cauca is undertaking various efforts, among others, in the design, production and testing of elements generated with 3D printers for the protection of health personnel and citizen personnel who support tasks during the isolation period.

 

Thanks to the efforts of various professors and undergraduate and graduate students, the 3D printing laboratory of the Department of Telematics of the Faculty of Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering has been testing various designs to generate elements such as glasses, masks, face masks, visors and other supplies that they may become useful at various times in the work of health personnel and associates.

 

Likewise, alternatives are being developed for citizens like many of the workers, who nowadays have permission to work outside their homes, and who must also manage protection options.

 

“This initiative is carried out within the framework of the international movement called Maker, which consists of citizens being able to build their own electronic and 3D printing devices. The remarkable thing about this movement is that it uses open and free-use formats, so knowledge is shared and solutions are reached faster thanks to its development community,”said Professor Gustavo Ramírez from the Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications.

 

He added that these devices are adapted versions of the proposal that have already been tested internationally in other countries where the fight against COVID19 has been more difficult, such as in Spain and other European countries. Currently, various laboratories and FIET subjects in undergraduate and postgraduate courses provide spaces for their students to propose innovative ideas on this issue.

 

After several tests, at the moment they have opted for two models, one for health personnel that is an easy protector, and the other as a mask with reusable interchangeable filters.

 

“For now, there are designs, validation alternatives, and it is expected that, along with many national and local initiatives, few generalized models can be reached that can meet the strict requirements of health personnel and achieve, if necessary, collaborative production ”, indicated the 3D Printing engineer, Carlos Rodríguez, Telematics Postgraduate Student.

 

Finally, he stated that in order to face a foreseeable shortage of printing material, actions are being taken with local options for the production of filament from recycled material that would make it more sustainable.

 

 

More information:

 

Faculty of Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering

Email: gramirez@unicauca.edu.co