Design of the Week: Glasses Polar 1

This week’s selection is the suddenly useful Glasses Polar 1 by designer Michal Fanta. 

The Czech-based designer developed the 3D printable eyewear for a recent design competition at iMakr. 

The curious design might be seen as fashionable, but in reality this is – and has been for centuries – a very practical design. The “slit” goggles have been used by Inuit people in the far north for eons as a means of seeing in the brilliant snow-covered landscapes found in their traditional lands. When you have no means to manufacture lenses, you make do with what you have on hand. Here’s an example of such goggles:

Now you can 3D print your own version – and since it is 3D printed, you can adjust the size to ensure a perfect fit on your face. It may take a couple of print iterations, however, to get it correct. 

Is this print actually useful? Given the recent wintery weather activity in many of the northern regions of our planet, maybe so! 

The 3D model is broken into three parts: the frames and two arms, which must be glued together. Unfortunately this design does not have a hinge or even a snap-fit connection. Nevertheless, you can successfully construct this eyewear, but you’ll not be able to fold it up afterwards. 

Printing this item is slightly challenging as the frame part really doesn’t have a flat surface, so you will most certainly require support structures. 

The design is available at no charge for download from MyMiniFactory, an excellent source of countless great 3D models. 

Via MyMiniFactory and Michal Fanta
Image Credit: Wikimedia