Making a Coronavirus Face Mask
31 March 2020
I wanted to design and donate a face mask that satisfied these requirements:
- Low weight (under 20 grams + transparency sheet)
- Low strap tension to prevent discomfort
- Fast to print (under 30 min)
- Robust
- Easy to assemble
- Wraps around the face
- Stays more than 1" away from the nose to prevent fog and discomfort
A comfortable face mask separates my germs from other people's germs.
I believe I was able to hit those due to several design choices:
- The transparent sheet is glued to the 3D printed frame, helping with structural rigidity.
- Frontal shape of two concentric circles with evenly spaced loading bars, making the shape rigid to compression and horizontal shear.
Requirements and Files
- Face shield stl.
- Gluing clamp stl. (optional)
- Printer transparency or transparent binding covers (stronger).
- Trasnaprent all purpose glue. I am using the Go2 Glue with success.
- Elasic head band, approx. 5mm x 1.5mm cross section.
Assembly Process
Steps:
- Sand down the printed surface that will touch the wearer's forehead with fine sandpaper.
- Cut the elastic band in 2 halves. Make one of the cuts where the loop is pre-glued.
- Fold the end of the elastic band and insert into the slot.
- Squirt glue inside the loop and along the slot.
- Squirt a small amount of glue along the transparency guide channel.
- Insert the transparency into the channel firmly and clamp it with the clamps.
- Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Try it on and if desired, trim the bottom edges with scissors.
The 3 steps above.
The assembled face shield standing on the clamps while the glue hardens.
Printing
Slicer settings are printer-specific, but here is what I used:
Cura Settings
First batch that was delivered to local ER.