The spread of the new coronavirus has sparked several solidarity initiatives in Brazil and the design world. It is no different in the interior of our state.
While Juazeiro do Norte, a product designer is making face shields — face shields — for health professionals to protect themselves from possible contagion. In Padre Cícero's land, so far, there is one confirmed case of Covid-19 and another 30 suspected cases.
The initiative by Jorge Bandeira, 36, who works with 3D modeling and printing, was inspired by models created in Italy, which proved effective in preventing health professionals from touching their own faces and protecting them from contagion through saliva, coughing or sneezing from infected patients.
“However, I had already been following international news, knowing the severity of the disease and how people were fighting it,” he explains.
Although those responsible for creating the face shield in Italy, to disseminate the technology, they 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 the protective equipment. “I printed it and saw that it worked. I made a prototype,” he describes.
3D Designer
The structure of the masks is then printed on a 3D machine. Then, a single cut is made from the acetates. Because of the material, one of the advantages of the face shield is its reusability. They can be washed with soap and water or alcohol gel.
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 Cariri and Center-South regions of the state. The designer believes that the pieces will be delivered tomorrow.
In addition, in partnership 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 ensure 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.