Marines on Okinawa assemble a 3D printing juggernaut in fight against coronavirus

CAMP KINSER, Okinawa — Armed with a cache of warehoused 3D printers and spools of orange thermoplastic, Marines have waged war against the coronavirus by turning out thousands of frames for face masks and face shields for use on Okinawa.

The III Marine Expeditionary Force’s 3rd Maintenance Battalion has 17 3D printers in a Camp Kinser warehouse “factory” running 24 hours per day to provide medical personnel with vital supplies and alleviate pressure on the supply chain as the virus gains a foothold on Okinawa.

As of Wednesday, the island had 40 confirmed cases of coronavirus, not including three at Kadena Air Base, according to the Okinawa Times newspaper.

Since March 30, the Marines have printed 5,000 face mask frames as well as 800 face shield frames for medical personnel at Naval Hospital Okinawa and guards taking the temperatures of motorists as they approach the gates at Okinawa’s military installations.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/1.625397