Hemets from a 3D printer

PhysOrg writes: The Swiss Guard at the Vatican are getting new helmets: The same design, but no longer tin but made to fit better with a 3D printer.

They will be lighter and fit better but the only technical information is that they will be from "PVC".

So are they merely ornamental or will they have a protective function, which was why they wore the helmets in the first place?

this is the ceremonial helmet, so like the armour they wear, is probably more for show than protection: but a lot of them are around in civilian clothing to protect the people and the treasures there.



Wikipedia article on the Swiss Guard.

the institution dates back to the medieval period when the Swiss provided mercenaries for all sorts of monarchies.

as for helmets: With the attention being given to soldiers who have post concussion problems from various explosives in the Middle East, there has been a lot of research on making better helmets: But they have to be comfortable since they are worn for hour on end.

PopMech article from Aug 2017 has this picture of the newfangled helmet

Photo: USArmy

The U.S. Army is testing a new helmet designed to offer full ballistic protection to a soldier's entire head. Looking like something out of Starship Troopers, the Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) protects a soldier's entire head, including for the first time the face and jaw, from injury. The helmet, developed by 3M subsidiary Ceradyne Systems, is scheduled to head to the troops next year.

The article goes on to discuss the "tin helmets" used since before WWI, and then the switch to kevlar, which was lighter.





Here is a short video on the evolution of helmets in ancient Rome: