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GliaX / faceshield

Face shield personal protective equipment (PPE)
https://glia.org/covid-19/
GNU General Public License v3.0
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change from prototype #18

Open gtkelly opened 4 years ago

gtkelly commented 4 years ago

Hi, Great project. In the CBC article

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-thursday-edition-1.5502954/canadian-doctor-who-works-in-gaza-makes-3d-printed-face-shields-for-covid-19-1.5502964

the red prototype is vastly different than the product in the current design. Our first run of the current design took 4 1/4 hours to produce a single copy. The prototype looks like it could be made in larger quantities using moldable plastic in flat sheets and then heated to fit the face of the user. The current design would require a very complex negative mold and appears to use more plastic.

Can you explain the change in design? Does it have anything to do with the large opening at the top that is addressed by the current design? Did users complain about the fit on their noses? Can you post the files for the prototype, please?

Thank you, Gregory

tareko commented 4 years ago

Hi,

Those were really only usable on people who already wore glasses, so that was the main issue. It is also impossible to use with N95's or reusable respirators. The current one resembles the ones used by health care workers more, so it's a more direct transition. At this point, it prints in about 1 hour, so not too taxing on the system.

tarek : )

gtkelly commented 4 years ago

Thank you for your response. Has there been any consideration to creating a negative of the frame, for casting molds?

tareko commented 4 years ago

No objections at all, but not something we can do at the moment. Don't hesitate to put in a pull request if it's a skill set you have or can facilitate!

gtkelly commented 4 years ago

Well, I took a crack at an autocad program to try to create a negative, but it'd be like the U.S. Army responding to the Ebola outbreak (by the time they had built their hospital, the outbreak was over). I believe that in the time it takes a 3D printer to print a single copy, we could mold ten or more from a negative, using moldable plastic such as

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077JZXGYV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This might not make medical grade quality, but it would be quite useful for other health providers such as physical therapists, who typically have a high- or at-risk clientele. As many health providers have observed, if we can interrupt the disease course in the population, we can reduce the need for ventilators.

If someone could make a negative I would be quite willing to print it and test it (I have the plastic, the straps and mylar). I do recommend a few changes for public versions. 1) Put a lid over the top and eliminate the hooks for surgical headwear. The lid will close off the opening and add structural support. 2) Use a single brace in the center instead of four (plus one on either side). This will allow a better fitting to the individual (moldable plastic can be shaped when heated). 3) Eliminate the holes for the elastic strap. This will not work with a mold. An alternative method to fasten the elastic straps will need to be designed that can be embedded in a mold.

Thank you, Gregory