Shield to Heal 3D model

grabcad

A phrase that has resonated in the current climate is: “We must come together by staying apart” – Leo Varadkar, March 2020.This design attempts to represent the strong message that is affecting much of the globe at the moment: We must shield ourselves from each other, for the time being, to allow the earth to heal. The central spiral column connotes the rod of Asclepius, to represent the herculean effort and sacrifices being made by healthcare professionals around the globe. The butterfly symbol is included as a reminder that from this cocooning process, something good can emerge.3D printing allows for intricate, complex mechanisms to be seamlessly incorporated into a design with ease – something which can be near impossible to do with traditional manufacturing techniques. This opens up numerous opportunities to enhance the impact of a design by bringing a sculpture to life through movement. In this design the central shaft can be rotated, which causes the six segments to move along an arced path. The inclusion of a spur gear system allows each segment to rotate independently.The model can be printed by either using a PolyJet material (VeroGray or similar) or FDM (ABSplus). STL files are included for both technologies. Please see attached screen grabs for proof. Unfortunately, I have not been able to test print this component as of yet. Daniel FahyUniversity of Oxford