Spanish brand Nagami Design has switched the use of its robotic arm from making furniture to 3D-printing face shields for medical staff treating coronavirus patients.

Nagami Design usually makes objects such as 3D-printed chairs by Zaha Hadid Architects, but has converted its manufacturing process to address the shortage of protective equipment in hospitals.

The brand's Covid-19 masks consist of a visor that is worn across the forehead and secured behind the ears with elastic.

Clear plastic film is fastened to a second band attached to the visor, forming a protective shield that can be cleaned or replaced when it becomes contaminated.

"3D printing has emerged as the ultimate tool for local manufacturing, reducing the production chain to the bare minimum," said Nagami Design founders Manuel Jimenez García, Miki Jimenez García and Ignacio Viguera Ochoa.

"With COVID-19 emergency, this technology provides the opportunity to efficiently produce affordable tools, which are now essential to help save lives."

The Spanish brand used the open source code made by Prusa for desktop 3D-printers and adapted it for its robotic arm. It can print up to 500 protective face shields a day.

The 3D-printed elements are made from Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG), which is strong and durable, and can be recycled afterwards.

Nagami Design is based near Madrid, which has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Spain's death toll for the disease is now higher than China's and only surpassed by Italy.

These 3D-printed face shields are being donated to Hospital Provincial de Ávila, near Nagami Design's factory. The studio plans to give them to hospitals in Madrid and the La Rioja region, in northern Spain, next.

"This is by far the most important project we've ever worked on, but also one we wish we'd never had to start. Our generation has knowledge and digital tools that have become truly meaningful," added the founders.

"There is no product to sell, no market to compete in. This is a challenge for all of us, and we'd like to encourage everyone with tools of any kind to reach out and contribute to helping bring safety back into our world."

Medical staff are particularly at risk from coronavirus because of their increased exposure while treating infected patients. This can lead to them developing a higher viral load and a more severe form of the illness.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is in short supply around the world. Demand is high, and manufacturing areas in China were badly affected early on in the coronavirus outbreak.

Companies such as Nagami Design are stepping in to cover the shortages.

Other companies are coming up with designs to help curb the spread of coronavirus. Danish startup Stykka has released the #StayTheFuckHome Desk to encourage people to stay at home in self isolation.

Photography courtesy of Nagami Design.

Project credits:

Nagami Design Team: Manuel Jiménez García, Miguel Angel Jiménez García, Ignacio Viguera Ochoa, Alejandro Nieto Jiménez, Luis de la Parra Garcia, Patricia San Segundo Galan, India Carazo, Anna Szonyi
3D printing support: CV19_Fab_Avila
Technology support: ABB
Rubber bands sponsor: Merceria Padilla, Merceria Mordissko, Merceria Ysali, Comunidad china abulense
Transparency film sponsor: Tecnipapel, Imagen, Libreria letras, Libreria Atenea, App Las Damas, Hiper Office, Politecnica de Avila, Bricoaguilar
Printing material sponsor: Politecnica de Ávila, Jose Luis Jimenez
Plastic filament: Sicnova
Packaging: Blueboxes Smart Wash, Esembal
Tool support: Mecanizados Jimar, Mecanizados Castilla
Coordination and deliveries: Protección Civil de Ávila