The advance of the new coronavirus has sparked several solidarity initiatives in Brazil and in the designer world. In the interior of our State it is no different.
Although Juazeiro do Norte, a product designer is manufacturing face shields — face shields — for healthcare professionals to protect themselves from possible contagion. In the land of Padre Cícero, so far, there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 and another 30 suspects.
The initiative by Jorge Bandeira, 36, who works with 3D modeling and printing, was inspired by models created in Italy, which have shown effectiveness in preventing health professionals from touching their own faces and protecting them from contagion by saliva, coughing or sneezing of patients. infected.
“However, I had already been following the international news, knowing the seriousness of the disease and how people were doing the fight”, he explains.
Although those responsible for creating the face shield in Italy, to spread the technology, have released a manual in English with technical information for reproducing the product.
“That's when the virus arrived in Brazil”, says the designer. It was through a forum of 3D modelers from all over Brazil that Jorge had access to the translated material and studied the production of protective equipment. “I printed it out and saw that it worked. I made a prototype”, he describes.
3D Designer
Thus, the structure of the masks is printed on the 3D machine. Then, a single cut of the acetates is made. Because of the material, one of the advantages of the face shield is its reuse. They can be washed with soap and water or gel alcohol.
So far, Jorge has managed to produce 20 units that will be donated to the Cariri Regional Hospital, equipment that has become the reference in the treatment of serious cases of Covid-19 for the region of Cariri and the Center-South of the State. The designer believes that the pieces will be delivered tomorrow.
In addition, in partnerships with the Juazeiro do Norte campus of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará (IFCE), the City Hall and another 3D designer, four other machines work simultaneously to guarantee more shield units, since production is slow: about 10 per day. “I receive many messages from people wanting to buy, but they are not for sale. We need to help,” he emphasizes.
