63 free 3D printers for hospitals and medical centers

Manufacturer BCN3D has offered 63 3D printers to hospitals, medical centers, and the scientific community to make medical equipment free of charge.

The company, which is based in Castelldefels, just south of Barcelona, aims to give a helping hand to hospitals that are being pushed to the limit dealing with the ever-increasing number of covid-19 cases.

The printers use FFF technology, a layered printing system, and have a dual extruder which enables them to print multiple pieces at the same time.

BCN3D's communications manager, David Martínez, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that they were making the printers available to the health authorities and the scientific community to allow them to manufacture medical equipment such as respirators, face masks and parts for hospital machinery.

Martínez explained they wanted to give a leg up to the health sector which he said was suffering from "serious shortcomings" but he emphasized that they would only be accepting projects that were scientifically and clinically approved.

Healthcare experience

The company has experience in the healthcare field, having developed 3D printers for Barcelona’s Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, and other medical centers across Europe.

At Sant Joan de Déu, for example, BCN3D has developed a project that allows you to print a lifesize organ in order to carry out tests and inspections before going ahead with an actual operation.

According to Martínez, the fact that printers can make different pieces at the same time allows for greater productivity and more efficiency. 

Previously, BCN3D and the University of Girona won an award for their innovative results in the fight against cancer at the 3DPI Awards.