ProtecShin V3: 180º of Redesign
The Light Bulb in the Shower:
ProtecShin V1 and V2 worked great. But they didn’t look as great. The exterior surfaces were scarred by the inevitable marks that a hot nozzle leaves on melting plastic as it moves around. Meanwhile, the hidden side that rests against the shin had a nice, even mesh pattern with a fine grain to it, imparted by the build surface.
Look at the difference between the V2 and V3, shown above.
The desire to hone that outer surface finish is what catalyzed the V3 redesign - partly inspired by the V4 BOQS fenders. Inverting the print orientation of the shin guards became the ultimate objective because that would leave the outer surface of the guard with an even mesh pattern and the even texture of the build plate.
Upside Down = Redesigned Closure
The V2 guards had snap tabs onto which the straps attached, but printing them upside-down meant that nothing could protrude upwards from that surface. The solution was to move the snap tabs onto the straps.
With the strap attachment sorted (and also improved in terms of security), it was time to dive deep into the form factor. The overall guard shape, as well as the spacing, curvature, and layout of the spines that allow the guard to curve to the leg were meticulously refined through more than a dozen iterations to find the best balance of flexibility, shin conformity, thinness, and ergonomics. This redesign and optimization also reduced the overall print time of a set by about 40%.
Details
While a super-clean exterior surface looks great, this increases the risk that a pedal may strike it and continue sliding until it eventually finds skin. V2 guards had exterior spines and channels that worked to prevent this, so for the V3, horizontal grooves were added to the exterior surface, designed to trap a pedal pin and mitigate that risk.
Graphics, Branding, and Colors - FINALLY.
The exterior surface of the V3 guards finally allowed for the addition of branding, logos, and, ultimately, whatever graphics we (or a customer) may dream up.
By default, the Nero and Ghost colorways will each have the option for bold or stealth graphics, with a choice of the CavaNero Horsie or text logos. However, the CavaLab will, from time to time, feature limited or one-off releases of ProtecShin guards in various colorways and designs, so be sure drop in occasionally.
ProtecShin V3: Looks, Feels, and Works Better.
ProtecShin V3 improves on the previous generation in every way:
Improved fit
More secure strap closure
New graphics and color options
Improved ventilation
Even thinner
Faster production time
