folded medical facial shield, no 3d print required

thingiverse

There are numerous innovative solutions available to meet the pressing demand for facial shields among medical caregivers, driven by the scarcity of these devices in response to the rapid spread of COVID-19. We're fortunate that many individuals are motivated to donate their time and resources towards this life-saving endeavor. Unfortunately, many regions lack access to 3D printing or laser cutting facilities, and even when they do have these resources, the prints can be intricate, time-consuming, or require multiple materials to complete the facial shields. This project aims to provide a solution that is accessible to communities with limited resources, requiring minimal technical expertise or equipment. The design utilizes a single standard transparent plastic sheet, typically used for overhead projectors or report covers. I've included A4 and US-letter versions. It also requires either a laser or inkjet printer. My intention is not to replace the high-quality options available from both makers and commercial outfits but rather to cater to outposts or areas severely affected by outbreaks where the need exceeds the availability of other options. The design draws inspiration from origami, with only two folds: mountain and valley. For more information on these folds, check this link: http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-valley-and-mountain-folds.html Instructions: If you have a 3D printer: 1. Print the front and back STL files of the jig, designed for US-Letter size. Note that A4 versions are not yet available but will be updated soon. 2. Place the plastic sheet between the front and back parts of the jig. Ensure the points on the back part line up with the holes on the front side of the jig. Make sure the plastic sheet is aligned straight and fits snugly into the corners of the jig. 3. Use a ball-point pen to firmly crease the plastic sheet against the curves provided on both sides. 4. Cut or punch out the holes at the locations where dimples have been made on the sides of the shield. 5. Using the creases you created earlier, make the creases more sharply defined with your fingers. Remember that one must be a mountain fold and the other a valley fold. If you don't have a 3D printer but have a laser printer and can print directly to plastic sheets: 1. Print the PDF file for your plastic size directly onto the plastic sheet. 2. Place the plastic sheet on a wooden or soft plastic surface. 3. Using a wheel-style pizza cutter, a dull knife, or a strong pen, trace firmly over the fold lines indicated, starting with the valley fold on the front side of the plastic. 4. Flip the plastic over and firmly trace the mountain fold on the reverse side of the plastic. 5. Cut or punch out the holes at the locations indicated on the sides of the shield. 6. Using the creases you made earlier, make the creases more sharply defined with your fingers. Don't forget that one must be a mountain fold, and the other must be a valley fold. If you don't have a 3D printer but do have an inkjet printer and can print directly to plastic sheets: 1. Print the PDF file for your plastic size directly onto a paper sheet. 2. Place the paper sheet over the plastic sheet on a wooden or soft plastic surface. 3. Using a wheel-style pizza cutter, a dull knife, or a strong pen, trace firmly over the fold lines indicated, starting with the valley fold on the front side of the plastic. 4. Flip the plastic over but keep the guide in place and firmly trace the mountain fold on the reverse side of the plastic. 5. Cut or punch out the holes at the locations indicated on the sides of the shield. 6. Using the creases you made earlier, make the creases more sharply defined with your fingers. Don't forget that one must be a mountain fold, and the other must be a valley fold. Now that your shield is folded, insert rubber bands, string, or yarn through the holes to create a strap or cord that fits comfortably around the head above the ears. Adjust this strap so that the shield stays in place but doesn't cause too much pressure. Take a look at the images to see how it fits. Some of the pictures are made with paper for easier visibility. The transparent sheet can be challenging to see with my camera. If you'd like to modify the jig for yourself, it's available on Onshape here: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/12d110feb107370d673a9583/w/92846e0cb4d7b9a24707e92b/e/35c0bab7e83ee05a4f8d79a3 I truly hope this helps you, your communities, and fellow humans overcome potential obstacles in our journey through challenging times. Please share and pass this on to anyone who needs it or is interested. Best regards, Dustin