Dayananda Sagar University makes 3D printed face shields for healthcare workers on COVID-19 duty

Bengaluru: The Autodesk Design and Innovation Centre and Innovation Labs at Dayanand Sagar University have designed a face shield to protect healthcare professionals coming into contact with possible carriers of the virus.

The face shield, which can become a part of the Personal Protective Equipment used by healthcare professionals, has two parts (a) support structure with quick attach-detach points to rest on the forehead of the user, and (b) a transparent film which protects the face of the user from infection carrying droplets.

Based on the design, several units were 3D printed by the DSU team and distributed to doctors for evaluation. After some iterations based on their feedback, a final design was arrived at.

The DSU team hopes to transfer the technology for mass-production to make it affordable.

The face shield was manufactured using FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling), a 3D printing process that uses a filament of a thermoplastic material, Polylactic Acid (PLA), commonly used in 3D printing.

New films can be swapped into the place of old films after a period of use.

The product was developed by Vinayaka K, manager of the Autodesk Design and Innovation Centre at DSU; Dr. Suryanarayana, professor of aerospace engineering and Ajay P, a student of automobile engineering, of the Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering.

“We already have multiple orders for the product and are looking for ways to enable mass production amidst limited access to resources and technology.” Vinayaka said. “We will be seeking approval for the face shield from Indian Council of Medical Research.”