The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has rapidly reacted to a demand for protective visors for healthcare staff in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the ongoing success with the AGP Shield for NHS workers, the MTC has now prototyped and developed a face visor that utilises laser cutting technology, which is available as a free open source download.
With a recent peak in Coronavirus cases, the safety of healthcare professionals has never been so important and personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a vital role. The MTC has been working hard to design, concept, prototype and test the laser cut protective visors with the aim to protect the eyes and face of healthcare workers. A technical specification for the visors has also been created as a result of the research.
Starting with an initial open source concept created by Nottingham Hackspace, the design was modified to meet user specific requirements and reduce the typical time it would take to manufacture. Using the MTC's state-of-the-art facility and the latest manufacturing technologies, the visor has been laser cut to ensure safety and comfortability and is built using a polypropylene frame and a clear plastic screen. The visor is suitably designed for quick hand-assembly, with build instructions provided within the technical pack.
Preliminary trials at Leicester Royal Infirmary have proven to be successful and hailed positive feedback, launching the MTC into production of the first 2,000 units for hospitals around the UK. Supply chains and manufacturers are welcomed to continue the production of the visors using the open source technical packs and documentation available for free download.
This project was part funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of a COVID-19 relief fund.
Whether you have questions, require further support, or need help sourcing a manufacturer or supply chain, please get in touch and we will endeavour to help.
We are also offering guidance to supply chains and manufacturers who may wish to use the technical design pack.
For further help and support, please email: covid19support@the-mtc.org
The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information on the website as a basis for making any business, legal or any other decisions. The designs shared here may not have been approved for use by the NHS or UK Government. Similarly, we do not endorse any third party websites which we have linked to on this site and material on third party websites may not have been approved for use by the NHS or UK Government.
Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, MTC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services or related material contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such material is therefore strictly at your own risk.
The design and assembly documents below are available as a free open-source download. The design files are available in two variants – a laser cut version designed by the MTC and a water jet cut version created by Swift Cut. Simply click on the package to start download.
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