POWERBreathe Device

POWERbreathe  is a high performance, hand held respiratory muscle training, assessment and monitoring device, intended for use by healthcare professionals for inspiratory muscle training and assessment in patients with dyspnoea, including patients with asthma, COPD, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, heart disease, neuromuscular disease, Parkinson’s disease and spinal injury.

Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) was approached by an industrial design company to produce a low volume series of prototypes.

Firstly MNL were supplied with full 3D CAD files(STL), then a 3D printed model was completed by using Stereolithography, this was then hand finished with a variety of graded finishes, such as the main body was finished to a high gloss, the additional side components were finished to a satin level.

These finished 3D printed components were used as a pattern for MNL’s silicone tooling process.

Castings were produced a water clear elastomer for the mouth piece, the main body and stand was produced in an ABS equivalent polyurethane and additional over mouldings to the side were also produced in an elastomer to give the main body grip.

A series of twenty castings were produced via this soft tooling route, from data to desk the customer was supplied first off tool in a very short time frame of just over a week.