Skip to main content

How-to: Helmets

Task-oriented guides for cranial helmet design.

How do I apply corrections and smooth the surface on a helmet?​

Corrections for a Brace (Helmet) are made in the Correct step, before you draw the trim line.

  1. Open the helmet document and go to the Correct step.
  2. To smooth the whole surface, add Smooth and set a value from 0 to 10. Higher values give a smoother shell.
  3. To push or pull a local area, add Volume region, draw the region on the model, then set the Amplitude (0.5 to 100) and Radius (0.5 to 100 mm) in the settings panel to raise or lower that area.
  4. To smooth just one area, add Smooth region, draw the region, then set the Factor (1 to 10) and distance (1 to 100 mm).
  5. Each added item shows its inline fields in the right-hand settings panel, and the model recalculates immediately.
tip

Every correction is recorded in the History, so uncheck it there to revert.

See also: Correct.

How do I draw the trim line on a helmet?​

The trim line sets the helmet boundary. It is drawn in the Design step, which only exists for a printed brace (production method 3D Printing: Brace).

  1. Open the Design step.
  2. Click Trim line. The helmet uses the single trim line.
  3. Click a point on the edge of the model, move the mouse, and click a second point. The edge deforms toward it with a live red preview.
  4. Repeat for more strokes until the boundary matches the opening you want. Press Enter to finish.
  5. To refine an existing trim line, select the curve and use Points on to drag its control points, which snap to the surface, then confirm.

See also: Design.

How do I add perforations or a hole pattern to a helmet?​

Perforations and holes are added in the Design step of a printed helmet. Both are available for every brace variant.

  1. Open the Design step.
  2. For perforations on a hex grid, click Hole pattern and draw the region for the pattern. In the settings panel set the hex size and hex distance (0.5 to 10 mm each). Use Edit to reshape the region and Mirror to copy it to the other side.
  3. For a single drawn hole, add the drawn Cut out control, tick Enabled, then use Edit to draw the hole curve on the model and Mirror to reflect it.
  4. Drawing a hole is a freehand curve: click a series of points on the model, then right-click or press Enter to close the loop, and confirm.

See also: Design.

How do I set the helm thickness (front and rear)?​

Wall thickness is set in the Printing step, which only appears for a printed helmet (production method 3D Printing: Brace). A milled helmet skips this step.

  1. Open the Printing step.
  2. Set Thickness for the overall shell wall, in the range 1 to 50 mm.
  3. To vary the wall front to back, set Thickness front and Thickness back independently, each 1 to 50 mm.
  4. Values apply on Enter or when you click away, and the shell recalculates immediately.
note

These thickness controls are helmet-only. An AFO or hand splint uses Thickness instead.

See also: Printing.

How do I set the flare on a helmet?​

The flare rolls the rim outward and is set in the Printing step of a printed helmet.

  1. Open the Printing step.
  2. Set Flare from 0 to 10 mm for the flare around the rim.
  3. For the front rim only, set Anterior flare from 0 to 10 mm.
  4. Both values apply on Enter or when you click away, and the model recalculates immediately.

See also: Printing.

How do I export a helmet?​

Export a Brace (Helmet) from the Export step. A printed helmet routes to 3D print production.

  1. Open the Export step.
  2. Choose your route:
    • Export saves the helmet as an STL.
    • Save order packages an .l3z order for outsourcing.
    • Produce now sends it to the in-house print queue, and Place in production adds it to the production queue.
    • To send to a manufacturing partner, pick the partner in Outsource to and click Place order.
  3. A printed helmet goes to 3D print production on export.

See also: Export.