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Design and AM of a medical face shield

Figure 3. The concept design candidates.

conducted as an iterative method, which allows and ranking each function in relation to the others.
product performance improvement with each The valuation matrix is composed of weighting
new step, thus obtaining at the end of the process the answers of all ten team members, and their
an optimized concept. Function analysis system final rankings are displayed in Table 1.
technique (FAST) diagrams were used for all The final valuation matrix shows that F10 and
[19]
lifecycle stages of the face shield to accurately F4 are the most important functions in value,
identify the main functions. Based on FAST and in namely, that the redesigned face shield should
relation to the main ten design objectives identified allow an easy transition from AM processes to
before for the face shield’s functions were defined. plastic injection molding and it should have a
clean, simple one-part design and avoid fasteners,
2.3 Functions importance levels
softening, and holding bands. This specific TFA
A TFA team comprised ten medical experts and stage highlights the functions of the redesign
industry specialists established the importance that should be focused on, from the value point
levels of the face shield by objectively grading of view. Function value weightings are noted

36 International Journal of Bioprinting (2020)–Volume 6, Issue 4