Description of the component:
The 3D Light half mask is an additively manufactured community mask for all users. It was developed in March 2020 by Gramm and Indavidual in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The mask consists of an additively manufactured main body, an additively manufactured nose clip, a filter insert and elastic straps for fastening. The main body and nose clip are additively manufactured using a material extrusion process (FDM). PETG is used as the material. The filter insert and rubber band are bought in.
Challenges:
As rapid product development was required, the mask was designed for additive manufacturing. This was the only way to achieve a large number of design iterations in a short time and at low cost. Laser cutting was tested at the start of development. The shorter construction time per main body did not justify the higher modification costs. The current design is exclusively additive and cannot be reproduced using laser cutting.
Solution:
The 3D Light half mask is reusable. Only the filter needs to be disposed of. But even this can be cleaned and reused. This makes the product more sustainable than conventional disposable masks. The flexible body of the 3D Light half mask creates a cavity in front of the face. This makes it easier to speak while wearing the mask. Conventional masks usually rest on the face and mouth, which makes it difficult to speak. The mask can be configured and customized.
Conclusion:
The 3D Light half mask is an additively manufactured community mask that is suitable for all users. The product was developed and released in just a few days by a two-person team. This speed is only possible with additive manufacturing. The product was improved several times after its release and is now available in many different variants. This agile approach and a high number of variants are only possible with additive manufacturing.