BUTMask H1

thingiverse

A team of researchers and students at Brno University of Technology have developed a 3D printable protection half mask that can be easily made on regular 3D equipment using the FDM technology. This product is intended for the general public and does not require special materials or printers. Although standard devices are usually not recommended for such purposes due to porosity and sealing issues, the BUT team's concept offers a unique solution. The BUT-H1 half mask features a simple structure consisting of: * A frame (3D printable) * A filter holder (3D printable) * A disposable glove-based sleeve (latex or nitril) * An improvised filtering insert (such as a car cabin air filter, a vacuum cleaner HEPA filter, or an air cleaner filter) * Headstraps * Thin kitchen rubber bands Compared to a simple 3D-printed version, this original product including a sleeve brings several advantages: * Full sealing thanks to the applied glove * Good face shape adaptability for optimal tightness * Face skin contact only with the actual material of the disposable glove * A sleeve-protected structure eliminating external contamination completely * A sleeve quick and cheap to replace or disinfect The protection provided by a half mask depends mainly on a tight face fit; the filtering capability of the applied medium is only secondary. Even improvised filtering instruments can reduce virus contraction risk, although their protective performance cannot match that of a classic tool. This product is intended for non-professional use, replacing regular surgical masks and respirators when these are unavailable or do not fit properly due to improper design or heavy everyday duty. Our half mask does not comprise an expiratory valve, and the humidity aggregates in the filtering medium; similarly to surgical masks, there then forms a potentially bacterial environment, meaning that the filter must be dried and disinfected or discarded. To fabricate the halfmask, the following items are necessary: * A 3D printer capable of delivering a product with dimensions of 13 x 13 x 7 cm * Printing material (filament); generally, requirements are very minimal, and the user can employ PLA, ABS, PET, PET-G, ASA, CPE, or any relevant alternative * An elastic, disposable, L-sized glove; other sizes may find application too, although L embodies the ideal option. Nitril gloves are recommended due to their durability and overall strength; a latex sleeve is also convenient but offers less reliability and must not be used by persons allergic to the substance. Condoms are also usable if necessary * An improvised filtering insert having a square-shaped size of at least 70 x 70 mm * Strings, elastic rubber bands, or other material to form the headstraps * Two thin rubber ribbons (cut out from, for example, an inner tube for bicycle wheels) * A pair of scissors For more information click here: https://www.vutbr.cz/edit/en/but/news-f19528/covid-19-protection-halfmask-but-h1-d197642