[3D Printing News] Commuting during the pandemic is a hassle? Make your own protective shield!
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19, Wuhan pneumonia) and the Qingming Festival holiday, commuters have been filled with anxiety. Following the " Five Anti-epidemic Gadgets " I shared last time, I'm immediately testing two homemade protective face shields! They can be made using either a regular household or industrial-grade 3D printer , giving you peace of mind during your commute! See the full test here, free download link at the end of the article!
The protective face shield consists of two main parts:
1. 3D printing frame and fixing piece
2. Isolation transparent sheet (with dimension line drawing)
We made them using a gamer-grade Original Prusa i3 MK3S and an industrial-grade Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle 3D printer , respectively, and both masks were tested and confirmed to be usable!
( The Original Prusa i3 MK3S 3D printer paired with Coca-Cola Red PLA cables : Fighting the virus can be both stylish and high-profile.)
The one used in the Ultimaker 3D printer is made with original orange PLA filament , and the difference in detail can be seen even before the outer frame is removed.
(This 3D-printed protective face shield has a row of 1 cm long and wide ventilation holes on the part that touches the forehead, which is very user-friendly.)
The two 3D protective structures have slightly different surface textures. The text on the Ultimaker orange mask is clearer, the texture is finer, and there is almost no layering error. The brushed texture of the Prusa red mask is also relatively obvious. However, it does not affect the functionality at all. Considering the Prusa 's price of less than 40,000 yuan, the finished product is still quite excellent!
As for the transparent sheet covering the face mask, we directly used PETG sheet from the Vaquform DT2 to cut the holes in the FLUX beambox laser cutter . If you don't have PETG , you can use transparent sheet from a regular stationery store! ( Click here to see the "FLUX Laser Cutter" usage tutorial )
(A 3D face shield isolation sheet of the correct size can be obtained in just 1 minute using a laser cutter. If you don't have a laser cutter, you can also photocopy and cut it by hand, or use the A4 version at the end of this article.)
After completing the two parts, assemble them together. Insert the holes in the transparent sheet into the 3D printing frame in sequence, and then insert the fixing piece at the bottom!
Finally, elastic bands are tied to both sides of the 3D printed frame to complete the process. The retainer at the bottom prevents the transparent sheet from expanding outward, providing safer protection. It has also been produced and used in large quantities by the medical systems of Europe and the United States to make up for medical resources.
After wearing the 3D protective face shields, the staff of Sandima found that the size of the shields fit everyone's head perfectly, regardless of their height or weight, and the results were very positive!
Another simplified version simply requires 3D printing of the outer frame and inserting an A4-sized transparent sheet into the latch. No holes or elastic bands are needed, and it can be fixed to the head like a headband, making it very convenient for short commutes!
Our colleagues at Sandima personally tried on the simplified version of the protective face shield and found it to be very lightweight and suitable for commuting. Come and try it!
As COVID-19 continues to spread and global medical resources become scarce, if you have a 3D printer , you can work together to produce protective equipment to protect yourself, or do your part for the world!