AngelList Weekly - 3D printing comes to the rescue

COVID-19's Impact on 3D Printing

America is experiencing a nasal swab shortage.

Nasal swabs are used for COVID-19 tests, and experts are suggesting the country needs to administer 2-3M tests per week before it can return to normalcy. But, with manufacturing and logistics experiencing serious disruptions... where will we get all these swabs?

3D printing to the rescue.

Voodoo Manufacturing, a 3D printing startup, now makes 50,000 nasal swabs per week, with plans to double output.

Origin pivoted from making 3D printers to manufacturing COVID-19 test kits. A single "Origin One" printer can print up to 1,500 swabs in a single print in under eight hours.

3D printing, at a distance, has seemed like a novelty industry. It's mostly made headlines when someone prints a controversial object, like a firearm. However, 3D printing is really a form of distributed manufacturing. And distributed-everything is having its moment.

3D printing has some benefits over traditional manufacturing techniques: Prototyping is quicker, customizing is easier, and machines can be assembled closer to where the products need to go. Investment in 3D printing can help plug the gaps if supply chains break down again in the future. Any ability to efficiently produce closer to demand will be valuable.

Companies with 3D printers are helping in other ways as well. SmileDirectClub, known for its direct-to-consumer 3D-printed teeth straightening kits, used their printers to ship over 35,000 face shields in a matter of weeks.

3D printing technologies are expensive and seem unlikely to be chosen ahead of traditional manufacturing techniques once supply chains are re-established. Still, 3D printing could play a more significant role in the manufacturing ecosystem moving forward.

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