Face Shields (EN)
We aim to join hands and forces to combat infections like COVID-19. Sharing ideas and knowledge are crucial to improve quickly and to expand our supportive actions. Many makers have followed an open-source approach to increase the impact and bridge the current shortage of PPE.
Here, we aim to collect information about different face shield models and production processes that contribute to the ongoing development of global COVID-19 response efforts. The collection intends to support further ideation, innovation and development as well as to enhance informed decision-making for the manufacture.
If you need PPE or provide manufactured PPE we recommend you to sign up on following international databases:
- Maker vs. Virus: https://www.makervsvirus.org/
- Covid19Masks: https://covid19masks.info/webapps/f?p=2222:1
- GetUsPPE: https://getusppe.org/makers/
If you have an (improved) version of a face shield model that can be added to our list of face shield projects, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Why face shields?
People with COVID-19 commonly experience respiratory issues, leading to coughing. The expelled airborne droplets contain virus particles that can easily spread and infect others. A face shield functions as an additional barrier between people to reduce the risk of viral transmission by covering eyes, nose, and mouth. The face shield also lowers virus loads on face masks worn underneath the protective shield.
Explanation of terms:
Production Recommendations
Recommended requirements for the production of face shields:
Material
- Face shield: clear and firm plastic; materials such as PET, PETG, polycarbonate (PC), polyester, with anti-fog coating are ideal
- Headband: adjustable elastic fabric or other band; non-latex; must be comfortable
- Optional foam pad: made of adhesive-backed closed-cell polyurethane foam
Design
- The face shield should cover the entire face. Pay attention to length and width.
- The top across the forehead should preferably be closed (for extra protection and comfort).
- It should be comfortable enough to be worn for long hours.
- The face shield needs to fit firmly around the head. For this, an adjustable, non-latex elastic or band is required.
Production Process
- Mainly laser cutting or die-cutting
- Low-end manufacture possible with scissors, blade cutter or similar
Cutting only projects for face shields
Face shields created by means of cutting only (e.g. laser cutting, die-cutting or by hand) are faster to produce than 3D printed versions.
What different cutting projects exist?
- Origami single-piece design (foil only)
- Origami two-piece design (foil only)
- Two-piece design (foil and elastic)
- Three-piece design (foil, elastic, and foam pad)
Origami single-piece design
This version is designed for high volume cutting. It is a single-piece foil design, involves very little assembling, and can be shipped easily. It does not require sourcing of extra materials (e.g. elastic, rubber, or foam).
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Project |
Recommended material |
Production process |
Link |
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“Open Source Single Material Face Shield” |
PET, PETG, or Vinyl |
die-cutting or laser cutting |
Origami two-piece design
This version is designed for high volume cutting. It is a two-piece foil design, involves little assembling, and can be shipped easily. It does not require sourcing of extra materials (e.g. elastic, rubber, or foam).
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Project |
Recommended Material |
Production Process |
Link |
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“COVID-19 Shield” |
PETG or PC |
die-cutting, laser cutting, CNC, or water jet cutting |
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“Origami Face Shield” |
PET |
die-cutting or laser cutting |
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“KiwiShield” |
PETG |
die-cutting or laser cutting |
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“S1 Shield” |
PETG, alternatively PC, or any clear sheet of acrylic, acetate |
laser cutting or water jet cutting |
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“Kansas City Open Source Face Shield” |
PETG, PC, PVC, or any other similar clear sheet |
die-cutting, laser cutting, or CNC |
Kansas Shield; |
Two-piece design
The majority of the versions are designed for high volume cutting. It is a two-piece design and involves little assembling. Most models can be shipped easily. It does require sourcing of one extra material for the headband (e.g. elastic or rubber band).
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Project |
Recommended materials |
Production process |
Link |
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“Proto Shield” |
PETG and elastic band |
laser cutting |
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“Open Source Face Shield” |
clear plastic and elastic band |
die-cutting, laser cutting, CNC, or similar |
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“Ruimestre Design” |
clear sheet, acrylic frame, and rubber band |
laser cutting |
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“Wilbert Yuque’s Laser Cut Shield” |
clear sheet, acrylic frame, and rubber band |
laser cutting |
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“CVHCS Laser Cut” |
PETG or similar, Polypropylene frame, and rubber or elastic band |
laser cutting |
CVHCS; |
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“MIT COVID-19 Face Shield” |
PETG, PC, or APET, and elastic band |
die-cutting |
project-manus.mit; |
Three-piece design
The majority of the versions are designed for high volume cutting. It is a three-piece design and involves moderate assembling. Most models can be shipped easily. It does require sourcing of two extra items, one for the headband (e.g. elastic or rubber band) and another one for the forehead pad (e.g. foam or neoprene). Versions with a forehead pad are more comfortable to wear, however, the pad cannot be properly disinfected for reuse.
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Project |
Recommended materials |
Production process |
Link |
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“Wisconsin COVID19 Medical Face Shield” |
clear polyester sheet, PET, PETG, or PC, elastic band, and adhesive-backed polyurethane foam |
die-cutting or laser cutting |
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“Flatiron Face Shield” |
PETG, rubber band, and foam |
laser cutting |
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“Hammerspace Face Shield” |
clear sheet, acrylic frame, elastic band, and adhesive-backed foam |
laser cutting |
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“CBA Quickshield” |
clear plastic sheet, frame material, and neoprene |
laser cutting |
3D Printing Projects
The frames of these face shield versions require 3D printing as an additional production procedure. Different designs are available that involve little to moderate assembling. Most models can be shipped easily. It does require sourcing of extra materials such as filament and commonly an elastic or rubber band. A few versions use foam or neoprene. 3D printed models take longer to manufacture than cutting only versions. However, the frames may be reused and the shields (plastic sheets) are mostly replaceable.
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Project |
Recommended material |
Production process |
Link |
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“Prusa Face Shield” |
clear sheet, PETG filament for the frame, and elastic or rubber band |
3D printing and cutting |
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“Design that Matters Face Shield 3.0 (remix of Prusa)” |
clear sheet, PLA for the frame (alternatively PETG, ABS, ASA, or Nylon), and elastic or rubber band |
3D printing and cutting |
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“RC2 Face Shield + Maker Nexus Extensions (remix of Prusa)” |
PETG for the shield (eventually also APET and RPET possible), PETG filament for the frame (alternatively PLA), and elastic band |
3D printing and (laser) cutting |
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“IC3D/Budmen Face Shield” |
PETG or Acetate for the shield, PETG for the frame, elastic band, and foam |
3D printing and cutting |
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“3DVerkstan Face Shield” |
clear sheet, filament (PLA, CPE, PETG, ABS, etc.), and elastic band |
3D printing and cutting |
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“Georgia Tech Face Shields” |
PET or similar for the shield, PC or similar for the frame, elastic band, and foam (optional) |
3D printing and cutting (die, laser, or water jet) or injection molding |
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“CVHCS Laser Cut or 3D Printable Face shield” |
Polypropylene for the shield, PETG for the frame, and cord, elastic or rubber band |
3D printing and laser cutting or injection molding |
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“Scrunchie Shield” |
clear sheet (PVC, PC, or PETG), filament (ABS, PLA, or PETG) |
3D printing and cutting |
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“3D Printed Face Shield (MITRE)” |
clear sheet, PETG for the frame, elastic band, and string |
3D printing and cutting |
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“SLS Printed RAG Face Shield” |
clear sheet, filament, and elastic or rubber band |
3D printing and selective laser sintering (SLS) or MJP |
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“3D Printable Face Shield (HP)” |
clear sheet, filament, and elastic or rubber band |
3D printing and cutting |
hp-3dprint; |
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“Avid 3D Printable Face Shield” |
clear sheet and filament |
3D printing and cutting |
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“CBA Quickshield” |
clear sheet, filament, and neoprene |
3D printing and cutting |
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“LL version 20190316.1” |
clear sheet, filament, and rubber band |
3D printing and cutting |
Prusa – Award-winning 3D printers and an open-source philosophy
What’s behind Prusa?
Prusa Research is a company in the 3D printing sector based in Prague, Czech Republic. It was found in 2012 by the developer Josef (Jo) Prusa who designed the PrusaPrinters. The company started operating under the brand Original Prusa i3. It achieved rapid growth over the last years and is now one of the most relevant 3D printing companies. The latest design is the renowned Prusa i3 3D printer. The design is available with many variations to meet the customer’s needs and wishes.
But this is not all you should know about Prusa. Prusa created a 3D printing community around the world with local hotspots. In this community, users open-source ideas, share experiences, provide tech support, and much more. You can look up designs, watch YouTube videos about 3D printing, or find help in the forum. This community will provide you with inspiration, knowledge, and feedback.
Prusa face shields
In times of the crisis COVID-19 and the acute shortage of protective equipment, the Prusa Research team used their experience to develop a prototype face shield that underwent two verifications with the Czech Ministry of Health. The newest model is the Version RC3 (status as of April 2020). All three models RC1, RC2, and RC3 are still relevant and suit different needs.
The following changes have been made to RC3 compared to the previous model: the removal of the hexagonal holes for faster printing, optimizations for stack printing, and new printing files for stacking headbands. RC2 provides more comfort and protection than RC1, while RC1 can fit more printing parts.
To encourage further production and increase the help, the designs are fully open-sourced with the possibility to make modifications if required. You can learn more about it here (https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/25857-protective-face-shield-rc1) or here for the US version (https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/27950-prusa-face-shield-us-version ). Please also read the advice if you want to manufacture shields for others.