Snowboarding Helmet

Looking for a 3D Printed Helmet? The number of head injuries from skiing and snowboarding accidents is increasing, especially amongst adolescents with helmets significantly reducing the risk of a head injury. The client a well-known design agency was contracted to combine style with safety.

As high-quality models were required; Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) was called upon to put its 40-plus years of experience to the test.

A leading product design company approached MNL to 3D print a child’s snowboarding helmet and finish it to the highest level of gloss. Both the helmet and visor frame were 3D printed using MNL’s Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process, once they were built both the helmet and visor frame was given to MNL’s finishing department. Our team got to work to achieve the perfect gloss finish with lots of hours needed to be spent on the model to firstly get rid of the build lines, smooth the surface and work through all the grades of sandpaper. It’s not a process that can be rushed especially when you have a reputation for perfect finishes (no pressure).

The helmet shown here (MNL’s own for exhibition purposes) was finished in a perfect gloss black, as were the customers. The visor pictured here was finished differently to the customers’ requirements, giving that sci-fi look with vacuum metalizing.