3D Printing Menstrual Technology

A workshop from EMF 2022 by The Crimson Wave Project

On Sunday June 5, 2022 at in Workshop 4

In this workshop we will show you how to modify a parametric CAD model of a menstrual cup mould using Openscad (https://openscad.org/). We will cover openscad basics and explain how menstrual cups are made.

This workshop will be run by The Crimson Wave Project, a Community Interest Company that is working to improve access to sustainable and body safe menstrual products that are suited to all the people who need them, alongside providing inclusive education around menstrual and sexual health more broadly, and one of our main goals is to create customisable menstrual cups. In this workshop, we will show you the basics of openscad and explain the process of creating 3D menstrual cup models. We will bring a resin printer (Elegoo Mars 2) to demonstrate how to make these moulds using resin, and practice casting them in silicone for the first time.

We will also share some fun period related facts, such as what people used before pads, tampons and menstrual cups were invented, how the ancient Romans felt about menstrual blood (spoil alert: they believed it could blunt knifes), and how menstrual blood was used as a torture device against Islamic fundamentalists in Guantanamo Bay.

ALL GENDER IDENTITIES WELCOME AND NO EXPERIENCE (OF OPENSCAD OR MENSTRUATING) NEEDED.