Menstrual Cup - 3D Cup

Menstrual cup ready to print

Difficulté

Easy Facile

Durée

2 hour(s) heure(s)

Catégories

Bien-être & Santé

Coût

5 EUR (€)

3D, Imprimante 3D, voronoi, utile, feminisme, femme Coupe_menstruelle_-_Cup_en_3D_Capture_d_e_cran_2018-09-12_a_13.20.10.png en fr Technique 1

Introduction

The idea is to create a template or process to easily print a menstrual cup for those who need it. 

Not everyone has access to the Internet, enough money to buy a ready-made one, a vacuum chamber and silicone. 

My idea is to send the model and the tpu filament for example in fablabs and they can print it quickly. Anyone can participate in the fablab, for example by making a free donation in a box next to the printer, for example. We will therefore be able to apply this principle in developing countries and in all places where there is a person in need.

It all started on Thingiverse and Todahl who was able to print it first and give me feedback on the file. She also posted it on the 3D printing group on Facebook ,which allowed me to get positive as well as negative, disgusted or amused feedback.

Unintentionally they all participated in a discussion about the female body and the taboos it still represents today.

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Matériaux

TPU/TPE filament (bio compatible)

Outils

3D printer

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2958111

Étape 1 - What is the cup ?

Mentrual cup patent 1867

I don't need to copy a block I found on Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup

Étape 2 - Know the project

The goal is to have a fast and healthy printing process to avoid a silicone mold (not everyone has the ability to buy this material and does not have access to a vacuum chamber)and to allow a faster and more personalized production.

This model (available on Thingiverse in the files section)  would allow to personalize the size directly, and the shape for those who have specific pathologies (low cervix ,vaginism)or allergies (we could thus change material for those allergic to silicone, the medical TPU being the most appropriate)

This would allow people who do not have access to sanitary protection (or who manufacture it with on-board equipment) to go to school, work and avoid infections that can cost them their lives. And also to make significant savings (between 5-8€ /month, pink tax etc.)

I hope that if this works, some companies will be able to send filament to fablabs and other third parties to manufacture them.

This can also be the subject of discussions/discovery workshops around the female body.

I know that this problem is often accompanied by the problem of accessibility to toilets.

I invite you to watch this video about the work of the movement Right To Pee (A movement for free,clean,& safe public urinals for women in India,An initiative of CORO India,with many more women organisations create by Mumtaz Shaikh ) and learn about projects such as Clean Your Cup.

http://cleanyourcup.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTIxexrn1A8&frags=pl%2Cwn

I leave you articles on the accessibility of hygiene protection in some countries and on the rules in general, as well as interesting articles on the materials I thought I would use.

I invite you to read about it in order to get your own idea of the project. Feel free if you have any feedback or interesting articles to report to me. (in English, French or another language)

Étape 3 - Questions that remain unanswered for the moment

• Does the TPU/TPE filament correspond to the medical TPU? Is it made of other things or made after other filaments (PLA, ABS...)? Are tests possible by the companies that manufacture them?
• Does it keep the same properties as the current cups? Can we boil them? Resists it has more than 8 hours in an environment at Ph < or = 5 without degrading and running the risk of a toxic shock? Do we have the same flexibility?
• Can they be printed with classic FDMs by just changing nozzles or do we need a sterile printer for the medical sector? (in this case it would increase the production cost and it would be more interesting to buy a cup on the market than to make it)
• Is it possible to have the minimum, see avoid irregularities in the printing to avoid having a nest for bacteria?

Étape 4 - Cup is safe ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul6s9khCXHY (video that gave me the idea to do this project and filament that I plan to use TPU/TPE)

http://www.orangenarwhals.com/2015/11/diy-menstrual-cups-hack4fem (Test for a cup mold)

https://3dprint.com/36851/sexshop3d-safe-sex-toys/ (How to make sex toy safe)

https://www.liveloveluna.com/blogs/news/fda-approved-menstrual-cups-what-does-it-really-mean

https://readycontainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cooleys-Chemical-Resistant-Chart.pdf (TPU chemical resistance chart)

• https://www.quora.com/How-does-TPU-differ-from-silicone
• https://www.quora.com/Is-thermoplastic-polyurethane-TPU-toxic

Étape 5 - Accessibility to hygienic protections/menstrual precariousness

• http://www.leparisien.fr/laparisienne/actualites/societe/tampons-et-serviettes-hygieniques-des-produits-de-luxe-07-05-2018-7703358.php
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=23&v=GXqF9H2aMBw

Étape 6 - Books and articles about menstruations

Le grands mystères des règles by Jack Parker

https://passionmenstrues.com/author/jackxparker/

https://simonae.fr/sante-bien-etre/menstruations/regles_dessous_protections_periodiques_adopter/

https://simonae.fr/sante-bien-etre/menstruations/coupe-menstruelle-revolution-silicone-cup-regles/

https://cyclique.fr

Published