UPDATE (27 March): The original community has somehow split into two factions due to disputes regarding donations and directions. Please scroll further below for details.

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UPDATE (4:15PM): We’ve updated this post with details regarding another DIY face shield effort by a local social enterprise.

ORIGINAL STORY (9:54 AM):

A group of local 3D printing enthusiasts have band together and are now working to produce single-use face shield to be delivered to the medical frontliners that are combating COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia.

Since the effort started a few days ago, the group have been improving their designs and have also begin to provide samples to on-ground doctors in order to obtain their feedback. At the same time, the group is also on the look for not only other 3D printing enthusiasts to participate in the efforts but raw materials.

(UPDATE – 25 March: please scroll to the end of this post for more details)

Aside from that, the group is also seeking donations in terms of monetary form to offset the production, raw materials, and delivery costs. If you want to contribute to the cause regardless with your own 3D printer and printing supplies or through monetary donations, please check the details above that were published one of the group’s admin, Adrian Wong.

You can also reach out to the community via this particular Facebook group. The group has also set up a Google Sheets-based dashboard for those who want to keep tabs of its progress while hospitals, clinics, and NGOs that would like to place their requests for the DIY face shield can fill up this form.

In the meantime, please exercise good hygiene, stay home, and stay safe in order to do your part in combating the spread of COVID-19.

(Thanks for sharing, Ruzy!)

UPDATE (4:15PM):

A local social enterprise, Biji-biji Initiative is also working to produce DIY face shields for our medical frontliners. The organization is now actively looking for production partners as well as raw material suppliers.

For further information, do check out the details provided by Biji-biji Initiative below:

UPDATE (27 March):

Things somehow got a bit messy just few days after everything seems to be smooth sailing for the local 3D printing community who has actually gained massive traction and able to obtained closed to RM 42,000 in donations.

At 11:32 PM on 24 March, the leader behind the 3D Printing Malaysia Community for COVID 19 group, Nurfaiz Foat has revealed in a post that the group admins wanted to halt the donation drive as the amount has gotten so big but they were still quite behind in delivering the actual DIY face shields.

Adrian Wong, who is the other key person behind the group and has also provided his company’s bank account for the donation drive, has opposed the move. To him, the donation drive must continue in order to expand the project further including adding other types of equipment to produce such as bubble box, google, N95 face mask, and high-risk face shield.

But, Nurfaiz and the group’s other key personnel prefer to meet all the demands that. Long story short, they decided to part ways, with the monetary donations that have yet been utilized are still contained within the bank account of Adrian’s company, Corner Room Studios.

Despite the split, respective groups are still continuing the production of DIY protective equipment for our medical frontliners as we speak. Just for clarity, here are the correct links to keep track of them:

3D Printing Malaysia Community for COVID 19 (Group): led by Nurfaiz Foat. While this group no longer accepting monetary donations, you can support them by donating raw materials. You can also keep out with the group’s progress through this dashboard and we suggest that you check out this quick introduction by Nurfaiz if you want to join him with your own 3D printer.

TeaMa Face Shield: by Adrian Wong, who has vowed to utilize 100% of the donation (which is still open) to obtain raw materials and 3D printers as well as to cover delivery costs. The team’s expenditure sheet is available over here while for frontliners and hospitals that would like to request for face shields as well as 3D printer owners that want to reach to Adrian and his comrades can do so through the links that are listed here.

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