3D printed visor frame for Made in Italy protective face shields

Through selective laser sintering process and Windform® FX BLACK polyamide-based material, CRP Technology has manufactured for Tecnoguarnizioni the visor frame of two PPE for medics and professionals. The speed of execution and the functionality of the parts in Windform® allowed the devices to be certified in a short time

Tecnoguarnizioni s.a.s (Soliera, Modena, Italy) for over 40 years has been producing industrial flat gaskets of all sizes based on the customer’s design.

In this period of major global crisis and health emergency, it is actively contributing to the fight against Covid-19 by creating new personal protective equipment (PPE).

Tecnoguarnizioni’s project consisted in the creation of two polycarbonate protective face shields models: one version (named Safe4U) for working environments; the other one (Safe4U +) to meet the requirement of the CE Mark for medical devices.
Both face protectors are equipped with a visor frame which, fastener to a rubber band, allows to wear the PPE while keeping your hands free to perform any action.

For the manufacture of the visor frame, Tecnoguarnizioni turned to CRP Technology and its technological solutions that combine speed of execution and optimal performance.

The Soliera-based company needed to obtain quickly the functional prototypes of the visor frames, in order to submit as soon as possible the final device to the CE certification process, and to finalize definitively the injection mold for industrial production, to avoid changes which would have involved huge waste of time and money.

Visor frames have been manufactured using Selective Laser Sintering process and Windform® FX BLACK, a new generation polyamide based material with a dark black color from Windform TOP-LINE range SLS materials. It is characterized by exceptional resistance to repeated bending and torsion. The material shows excellent impact resistance even at low temperatures.

Once completed the manufacture of the visor frames, they were hand-finished by CRP Technology’s specialized workers, to simulate as much as possible the finish of the injection molding: this was possible thanks to the characteristics of Windform® FX BLACK, whose consistency and behavior are similar to polypropylene and ABS injection moulded parts.

The 3D printed visor frames in Windform® FX BLACK were attached to the transparent polycarbonate shields.

Tecnoguarnizioni team tested the visor frames to longitudinal traction test and, with regard to the side holes, to compression by manual tightening of screws and nuts.

“We are very satisfied with the results obtained – states Sandro Righi, Tecnoguarnizioni CEO – . Thanks to CRP Technology and its AM solution we have achieved speed of execution, remarkable precision and, regards the components, lightness and flexibility.”

“In addition – concludes Righi – a certifying body tested the face shield to evaluate the quality of the protective shield-sheet: again, the visor in Windform® FX BLACK proved to be capable, and the tests were brilliantly passed.”