Exminster Community Print Farm
Donation protected
Hi there. My name is Rob and a few weeks ago, I created the Exminster Community Print Farm. It all started as I was flicking through Facebook one day and came across a post from a dear friend who works for the NHS and was looking for something to stop her cloth face-mask from rubbing on the back of her ears. I did a little research and found a file for my 3D printer which I produced (x20) and gave to her... it worked perfectly. At the same time I put a post out into my local community offering the same item to local NHS, Social Care and key-working staff. The demand was HUGE. After running my printer around the clock, I began to run low on materials and having already invested a lot of my own money, I put out a plea to my friends for supplies whilst at the same time starting to produce full-face shields with interchangeable 240 micro acetate visors. I received over £300 worth of materials from that push... and a LOT of requests for help... I was beginning to become overrun.
In an effort to keep helping as many people as I could, I reached out again to the local community in and around Exminster and Exeter looking for more materials, additional printers and the possibility of somewhere to create a larger operation. The trustees of the Exminster Victory Hall immediately got in touch and offered me space to set-up, and I was contacted by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue who work in partnership with Safe South West and offer grants within the community for people trying to do their part to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The owner of local business Beevive also called, as did a very kind gentle by the name of David. Out of these conversations came:
- £600 grant from Safe South West for a printer and materials.
- Loaned 3D printer from Beevive.
- Loaned 3D printer from David.
- Free use of the Exminster Victory Hall.
- £500 grant for materials from Exminster Parish Council.
As I write this, I have a 3 printers working around the clock in Exminster Victory Hall as well as one in my home. We are receiving daily requests for either full-face visors or ear protectors, none of which we are selling... we are giving them all to key workers free of charge. We are burning through materials but would like to keep going... possibly even adding an additional printer if we can source one.
That is where you come in. Suppliers have increased prices of materials by up to 200% as so many people around the country do as we are doing and try to help, but we are beginning to find bulk buy discounts available directly with manufacturers.
Even the smallest donation to the cause will keep us producing valuable PPE for NHS, Social Care, School, Nursery, Retail and so many more staff across Devon.
£25 buys a spool of high-grade PLA filament. £100 buys a bulk pack of 5. £250 would go a long way toward adding an additional printer to our production line. Every pound we receive goes a long way toward meeting some of these targets.
If you'd like to see more about what we're doing and how we've been putting donated materials to good use, our Facebook page can be found HERE. At all times we aim to be completely transparent as to how donations have been spent and provide regular updates with who we have helped.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story and thank you if you are able to donate even £1 to help us.
Together, we will beat COVID-19!
- Rob
In an effort to keep helping as many people as I could, I reached out again to the local community in and around Exminster and Exeter looking for more materials, additional printers and the possibility of somewhere to create a larger operation. The trustees of the Exminster Victory Hall immediately got in touch and offered me space to set-up, and I was contacted by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue who work in partnership with Safe South West and offer grants within the community for people trying to do their part to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The owner of local business Beevive also called, as did a very kind gentle by the name of David. Out of these conversations came:
- £600 grant from Safe South West for a printer and materials.
- Loaned 3D printer from Beevive.
- Loaned 3D printer from David.
- Free use of the Exminster Victory Hall.
- £500 grant for materials from Exminster Parish Council.
As I write this, I have a 3 printers working around the clock in Exminster Victory Hall as well as one in my home. We are receiving daily requests for either full-face visors or ear protectors, none of which we are selling... we are giving them all to key workers free of charge. We are burning through materials but would like to keep going... possibly even adding an additional printer if we can source one.
That is where you come in. Suppliers have increased prices of materials by up to 200% as so many people around the country do as we are doing and try to help, but we are beginning to find bulk buy discounts available directly with manufacturers.
Even the smallest donation to the cause will keep us producing valuable PPE for NHS, Social Care, School, Nursery, Retail and so many more staff across Devon.
£25 buys a spool of high-grade PLA filament. £100 buys a bulk pack of 5. £250 would go a long way toward adding an additional printer to our production line. Every pound we receive goes a long way toward meeting some of these targets.
If you'd like to see more about what we're doing and how we've been putting donated materials to good use, our Facebook page can be found HERE. At all times we aim to be completely transparent as to how donations have been spent and provide regular updates with who we have helped.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story and thank you if you are able to donate even £1 to help us.
Together, we will beat COVID-19!
- Rob
Organizer
Rob Allen
Organizer
England