3D printing: collaboration network manufactures visors and goggles for Portuguese healthcare professionals

INEGI, together with LAETA - Associated Laboratory of Energy, Transport and Aeronautics, the University of Porto (UPorto), the Faculty of Engineering of UPorto (FEUP), the Polytechnic Institute do Porto (IPP), the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do IPP (ISEP), INESC-TEC - Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Mechanical Engineering students from FEUP and ISEP, professionals and companies have joined forces and are developing and manufacturing, through 3D printing, visors to protect Portuguese health professionals.

This voluntary production line was developed in close collaboration with the Northern Regional Health Administration, central hospitals and health centers, with regard to the design of visors and their validation. “INEGI, FEUP and ISEP designed and optimized, in terms of material consumption and printing time, two visor models: one for use in central hospitals and another for use in health centers”, explains Pedro Camanho, Vice -President of INEGI and Full Professor at FEUP. The first production batch is already being completed and will be delivered later this week.

In parallel, INEGI and FEUPs students of Mechanical Engineering are printing frames, for the goggles of health professionals, which were designed by VIVALab and the School of Arts and Design (ESAD). The Porto City Council is supporting this initiative in terms of logistics, namely collaborating in the collection of frames.

Around the world, 3D printing technology, or additive manufacturing, has proven to be a determining factor. It allows a quick and effective response to the production needs of equipment that support the activity of health professionals, at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic requires a demanding fight against time.