Skelmet Uses 3D Scanning, Printing To Create Customizable Sports Sunglasses
If you’re an athlete who uses a pair of sunglasses, it may be impacting your performance more than you know.
“If your glasses don’t fit, they can bounce around, flip down your nose or fog up,” Skelmet COO and co-founder Rain Wang said. “Those problems can affect your performance whether you’re cycling, running or motorcycling.”
That’s why Wang and her co-founder, James Cao, came up with a solution to easily customize wearable products that are meant to protect your face. Using software that can turn a 3D head scan into 3D printed glasses, Skelmet has created the world’s most customizable sunglasses.
The Boston-based company announced Tuesday the launch of its Indiegogo campaign to create and build the Falcon 1 3D Print Sport Sunglasses, a product that aims to fix the problem of ill-fitting sports sunglasses.
The process of getting fitted for these sunglasses is simple: take a 3D head-scan, then sit back and relax. “Once you get the scan done, you basically don’t have to do anything,” Wang said.
The scan, which uses selective laser sintering (SLS) to extract 86 key points from your head and face, can be done on your own or at a partner store. To complete the scan on your own, you simply download the app on your iPhone. Wang however warns that a self-scan might not be as accurate if you’re not experienced. That’s why she suggests you visit one of their scan partners.
“We’re partnering with hundreds of sports stores, bike shops and motorcycle shops,” Wang said. “They have trained associates to take care of you.”
Once the scan is complete, the sunglasses are constructed using nylon plastic which is very flexible, yet very strong and extremely light. “These sunglasses are actually the world’s lightest using 3D printing technology,” Wang said.
Not only are they light, but also they’re designed with intricate, precisely calculated aerodynamic flows. “Because we calculate precise field of vision, the lenses give you maximum protection,” Wang said.
Maximum protection means no light leakage and that the glasses don’t fog up. All of these things offer athletes a more comfortable pair of sunglasses that eliminate problems affecting performance.
Whatever products Skelmet comes out with in the future (they will be rolling out sports goggles, snow goggles and helmets), all you’ll need to do is go online and buy something customized just for you based upon the initial scan. “This is new, but it’s guaranteed to fit you perfectly,” Wang said. “If for any reason the sunglasses don’t fit you, we offer to get you a new one, no questions asked.”
Wang says she has spoken with hundreds of people who don’t know if their sunglasses fit because they’ve never had something customized. Skelmet is doing its best to make sure those days are over.
