RAPID

3D Scanning & 3D Printing for a Perfect Fit: Meet Skelmet’s 3D Printed Sports Sunglasses

Eplus 3D

Share this Article

skelmetI have bad luck with sunglasses – or maybe it’s less bad luck and more user error, as I tend to drop things a lot, and leave things places, and step on things. I’m also cheap and rarely spend more than $15 or so on sunglasses, so I shouldn’t be surprised that they tend to fall apart – though I’m still vexed that I managed to break my last pair simply by putting on a headband while wearing them. Even pricey, well-made sunglasses, however, have their disadvantages, especially for athletes who depend on them to stay in place during heavy activity.

“If your glasses don’t fit, they can bounce around, flip down your nose or fog up,” says Rain Wang, triathlete, tennis player, and co-founder and COO of Skelmet. “Those problems can affect your performance whether you’re cycling, running or motorcycling.”

skelmetWang, who is also a mathematician, founded Skelmet with engineer James Cao, who describes himself as a “part-time motorcycle and gadget enthusiast.” Both of them had experienced the difficulties caused by ill-fitting sunglasses and helmets, so they decided to put their expertise towards developing a solution in the form of customized wearables designed to protect the head and face. Their first product, the Falcon 1 3D Print Sport Sunglasses, is now on Indiegogo.

Skelmet created a specialized app that allows users to scan their own heads and faces – or, if they’re not experienced with 3D scanning, they can visit one of Skelmet’s partners, which include hundreds of sporting goods stores and bike shops, to have a trained professional take the scan. The scan takes less than two minutes, and maps 86 data points on the face. Skelmet then uses their patented “3D Fit” algorithms to create a pair of sunglasses that perfectly fits the user’s face.

ir9nofv

Skelmet has created what they state is the “world’s first and largest head and face scan database,” consisting of more than 3,500 data entries.

“Traditional one-size-fits-all products fit less than 15% of people, but our custom Skelmet Falcon sunglasses can satisfy over 98% of the population,” the company states.

trl9eadhmzz7i3tqh3nkThe sunglasses are 3D printed using SLS technology, and according to Wang, they’re the lightest 3D printed sunglasses in the world – and by now we’ve seen several options made possible thanks to 3D printing technology – weighing only 17 grams. They’re also sweat- and impact-resistant, and they’re 3D printed with air circulation channels that allow maximum ventilation and prevent fogging. Contact pressure control means that the glasses won’t press into your face – no more red raccoon eyes.

The custom fit also means that light won’t leak in around the edges, and once the Indiegogo campaign ends, customers will be able to choose from lots of options. I never realized that differently-colored sunglass lenses had a purpose beyond making you look super-cool, but it turns out that there’s a lot of nuance involved in the shade of your shades. Gray-green lenses heighten contrast and are ideal for activities that take place on grass, while mirrored pink lenses enhance road visibility. Customers will be able to choose from those and several other colors, as well as frame colors and even prescription options.

n5abw3p

Skelmet is trying to raise $50,000 through Indiegogo over the next month, and perks for backers range from a single customized pair of sunglasses for an early bird price of $199 to a “team edition” 10-pack, complete with etched team name and logo, for $2,449. Shipping is estimated for September of 2017.

In the future, Skelmet plans to offer additional products such as helmets, sports goggles and snow goggles. If, for whatever reason, your glasses or helmet don’t fit you perfectly, the company will replace them for free, no questions asked. I’d definitely pay more than $15 for that. Discuss in the Skelmet forum at 3DPB.com.

[Source: SportTechie / Images: Skelmet]

 

 

Share this Article


Recent News

SmarTech Releases First Report on Emerging 3D Printing Technologies and OEMs

US Navy Official Says the Future of Military Shipbuilding Depends on Metal 3D Printing



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

U.S. Navy Approves 3D Printed Parts from Nuclear Ship Leader

As suggested in a story from 3DPrint.com Macro Analyst Matt Kremenetsky, anything related to securing the U.S. manufacturing supply chain is currently getting a significant boost from the Biden Administration,...

Investors Could be the X Factor in 3D Printing Workforce Development

It must be frustrating for stakeholders in the additive manufacturing (AM) sector to see that the companies that they’re backing are facing the exact same obstacles in the short-term that...

US Navy Submarine Installs Markforged 3D Printer

Virginia-class submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778), part of the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), now has a Markforged X7 field edition additive manufacturing (AM) platform installed onboard. NAVSEA’s...

3D Printing News Briefs, February 25, 2023: Anatomic Models, Horse Trailer, & More

Fabrisonic is introducing a new build plate with embedded sensors; this hardware news kicks off today’s 3D Printing News Briefs. Moving on, we’ll cover some of the major 3D printing...