Members of the Sidney community continue to play a significant role in the University’s efforts to tackle the coronavirus crisis. Dr Michael Ramage is leading a team of researchers to create an origami face shield (known as HappyShield) that is made by folding a sheet of clear plastic.
Dr Michael Ramage, Fellow and Vice Master at Sidney, is leading the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Natural Material Innovation to create a face shield for healthcare workers called HappyShield. The origami face shield is designed to be simpler than other options available and can be made without specialist equipment. This project is run in collaboration with the University of Queensland.
A face shield is created by folding along the curved-creases on the template of any clear sheet material and combined with a piece of elastic.
The HappyShield has a simple design and can be made without specialist equipment using widely available materials.
Michael noted, "It only requires a clear sheet and elastic. Most masks that are being made require either a 3D printer for the head clasp, or a foam block for the forehead. This is simpler to make, and needs no special tools."
The research team estimate that a single facility using die cutting machines, typically used to make food packing cartons, could manufacture up to 50,000 face shields a day.
The HappyShield is the latest face mask created by designers and architects reacting to the global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The HappyShield is in the process of being tested through the British Standards Institute before it can be certified for use as PPE.
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