Thrive
Local maker Mo Eppley talks 3D printing PPE for frontline healthcare workers
The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce presents: Coronavirus Impact Insights.
On this episode of Chamber Coronavirus Impact Insights, Mo Eppley, founder of MityMo Creative and Tangible Labs joins Chris Steinocher, CEO of the St. Petersburg Chamber and Joe Hamilton, publisher of the St. Pete Catalyst to talk about her work 3D printing necessary materials for local workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Before Eppley joins the show, Hamilton and Steinocher discuss the newly released CDC guidelines for businesses to follow while they work to reopen.
Eppley shares her current and upcoming projects, including a new business called Go Union Printing, a union print shop for nurses, firefighters and teachers unions, as well as political candidates. She also talks about her nonprofit volunteer life, including her work with St. Pete Makers and Friends of Strays Animal Shelter.
Tangible Labs, Eppley’s business that specializes in 3D printing, has been working to print open source personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. After 3 prototypes, Tangible Labs now has 15 3D printers working at a time to produce a few hundred face shields. To date, Tangible Labs has delivered 2,120 donated face shields. They are accepting donations at Tangible Labs and St. Pete Makers websites.
Eppley says the biggest challenge has been shipping the raw materials. She has managed to locate the materials and find creative ways to work with the supply chain thanks to the network of 3D printers throughout the country and the state.
Resources:
Donate to Tangible Labs’ Covid-19 response: https://tangiblelabs.com/covid19
Cj Ash
April 26, 2020at12:07 am
Mo and I met on the Obama campaign. Years later in 2017 hurricane Irma knocked out power to my home for over a week. The heat was unbearable for my dogs daisy and exie. Mo without a moments notice allowed me my roomates and my dogs to move into her professional office sleep on the couches and let the dogs cool off in the air conditioning. She is one of the most kind hearted people j have ever met. I will never forget that moment of kindness. She is a hero.