Protective Face Shields from the 3D Printer
Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology supports medical institutions in the region with the supply of special protective equipment - 3D printing helps campaign to be extended
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Nurse Petra Zill and Alexander Goy (Student Physician Assistant) work in the central emergency room at the Klinikum Mittweida with the protective face shields manufactured at Chemnitz University of Technology. Photo: Ines Schreiber -
Several protective visors with overhead film made by the 3D printer. Photo: Chair of Industrial Science and Innovation Management -
Six visor mounts can be produced on the 3D printer in a single operation. Photo: Chair of Industrial Science and Innovation Management
The increasing number of Covid-19 infections in the region also requires increased personnel deployment for the treatment of sick people. The protection of medical and nursing staff in hospitals and clinics is of particular importance. However, in the current corona pandemic situation, the supply of protective equipment is very tight. This is confirmed by inquiries to Chemnitz University of Technology and related requests for support. For this reason, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology has produced more than 100 protective face shields made of plastic within a few days of successful prototype tests. Employees of the faculty, together with partners and private individuals from the region, succeeded in producing the head mounts using 3D printing, to which transparent lamination or overhead plastic sheets are attached. The sheets can easily be replaced after use. These face protection shields serve as an additional infection barrier and are worn over a conventional mouth-nose protection. They often protect more than conventional safety glasses.
The first protective visors were handed over to hospitals in the region at the beginning of the week - including the Klinikum Mittweida. Its managing director Florian Claus says: "In order to protect both our staff and our patients, appropriate protective clothing is more important - but at the same time more scarce - than ever before. Thanks to the initiative and support of Chemnitz University of Technology and the uncomplicated, rapid assistance, we were able to provide our staff with protective visors at short notice for their work with corona patients. The visors are already in use in our intensive care unit, among other places.”
The production of the face protection, which was coordinated by the Department of Factory Planning and Factory Management at Chemnitz University of Technology, was supported by the Chair of Industrial Science and Innovation Management, the Professorship for Machine Tools and Forming Technology, the Chair of Materials and Surface Engineering and the Chemnitz companies Hörmann Rawema Engineering & Consulting GmbH and WIR electronic GmbH.
“I would like to thank all participants very much for their spontaneous, creative and successful actions to effectively support the great efforts of the medical and nursing staff in the region,” says Prof. Dr. Thomas Lampke, Director of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Currently, work is underway throughout the faculty on further protective visors for medical staff and support for nursing facilities. Anyone who owns a 3D printer and would like to participate in the faculty's relief effort, or has a need for protective visors themselves, can contact the following people: Hendrik Unger, E-mail hendrik.unger@mb.tu-chemnitz.de, Phone 0371 531-35983; Riccardo Prielipp, E-mail riccardo.prielipp@mb.tu.chemnitz.de, Phone 0371 531-33400, and Philipp Wilsky, E-mail philipp.wilsky@mb.tu-chemnitz.de, Phone 0371 531-33210.
(Author: Mario Steinebach / Translation: Chelsea Burris)
Matthias Fejes
14.04.2020
