Open-Source Electronics Maker Adafruit Switches To Producing Face Shields, Other PPE (tomshardware.com) 11
Slashdot reader and managing director of Adafruit, Phillip Torrone, a.k.a. ptorrone, writes: Tom's Hardware talked to Adafruit about what it's like to switch from selling tech to selling protective gear, and when hobbyists can expect things to return to normal. In March of 2020, Adafruit was deemed an essential service and business for critical manufacturing in NYC by executive order 202.6, making face shields and making/shipping critical components and electronics for COVID-19 related efforts and testing. "We've always needed to make essential electronics for people," Torrone said, stressing that this isn't new for them. "When this hit, there was a very specific short term need. And that was for face shields. And because we have 3D printers, we have laser cutters, we have production capabilities, [when] New York City put out the call, our name came up right away because that's one of the things we do."
On top of that, "we can make components for ventilators," Torrone added: "We can make components for the fast track FDA medical devices that people are trying to get out as fast as possible, from testing equipment to you name it, any type of temperature sensing or pressure sensing...We make electronic components that are used in many, many things. So no matter what, we would still need to be making those components for medical devices...electronics are electronics, so this temperature sensor that we used to use for other things, is going to be used for this now. This barometric pressure sensor, or that barometric pressure sensor [is going to be used for other things]...So for us, it was like 'Oh, this is just going in a different type of box for different types of application.'"
Since Adafruit's shift to essential medical and protective gear, the company's other products are now shipping out on a "when we can do it" basis. Tom's Hardware notes that the company "is still selling to select university and military researchers, but all others will have to wait until an unspecified time in the future to buy their usual Adafruit tech." Thankfully, Torrone says the customer response to the delay of normal business has been largely positive. "We've always been a good cause and a good business with a really good community. So our customers said, 'I'm still going to order and just ship it when you can.' So for regular orders for our customers, they've been fantastic."
On top of that, "we can make components for ventilators," Torrone added: "We can make components for the fast track FDA medical devices that people are trying to get out as fast as possible, from testing equipment to you name it, any type of temperature sensing or pressure sensing...We make electronic components that are used in many, many things. So no matter what, we would still need to be making those components for medical devices...electronics are electronics, so this temperature sensor that we used to use for other things, is going to be used for this now. This barometric pressure sensor, or that barometric pressure sensor [is going to be used for other things]...So for us, it was like 'Oh, this is just going in a different type of box for different types of application.'"
Since Adafruit's shift to essential medical and protective gear, the company's other products are now shipping out on a "when we can do it" basis. Tom's Hardware notes that the company "is still selling to select university and military researchers, but all others will have to wait until an unspecified time in the future to buy their usual Adafruit tech." Thankfully, Torrone says the customer response to the delay of normal business has been largely positive. "We've always been a good cause and a good business with a really good community. So our customers said, 'I'm still going to order and just ship it when you can.' So for regular orders for our customers, they've been fantastic."
just ordered from them, in fact (Score:2, Informative)
needed some UV sensors for a DIY uv-c disinfection box.
amazon was out. got one sample from amazon, made a test circuit, worked great, need more for more builds. no more at amazon. even the china clones are gone.
adafruit to the rescue. they had them in stock and when I described what I was going to use them for, I got lower-delay shipping. not sure how fast they'll get here, but a week or so would be fine, as long as its not a month.
lots of good info online on uv-c boxes. some starting points:
https://m [medium.com]
I'm a kid I admit it (Score:1, Flamebait)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Adafruit is a complete rip-off.
Their documentation and libraries also suck, there are far better examples and libraries out there.
A bit late (Score:2)
AND we're still making our regular products, you just gotta wait 3 days extra for manufacturing and delivery.
Adafruit Partnership (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3)
this is the good side of the world.
there's so much bad out there; its really great when we see good things happen.
pity its the exception, in today's world. so many people that want to build things and make life better for people. then, there are people who are sociopaths and think only of profit and themselves.
we have good guys like you; and we have bad guys like, well, our president, in this world. far too many who want to use this crisis for their own diabolical purposes.
makers are good people. we nee
Proud to be a customer (Score:2)
Keep up the good work!
We'll have to make do with cheap copies from Ali Express in the mean time ;-)
Adafruit is price gouging (Score:1)
You have to be either rich or really stupid to buy anything from adafruit. Just do a search of the same products they sell on amazon or ebay, and you will find the parts for 5x less money.