BUTMask H2

thingiverse

The original protective half-mask for non-professional use is mainly designed to replace regular surgical masks and respirators when these are not available or do not fit tightly due to improper design or heavy everyday use. The half-mask can be assembled from common, commercially distributed materials, and its basic parts are 3D-printable (via FDM and other standard technologies). A tight touch on the face and full sealing of the walls are ensured by a sleeve that is made of a disposable glove for practical and easy usage. Main Benefits Compared to a simple 3D-printed product, the VUTMask H1/H2 brings several advantages: • Full sealing thanks to a convenient sleeve • Good face shape adaptability • Face skin contact only with the actual material of the disposable glove (Nitril or Latex) • Sleeve-protected structure eliminating external contamination completely • A material that is quick and cheap to change and disinfect Innovations • Markedly improved user characteristics: The original version H1 proved to be very uncomfortable if the size had not matched perfectly; thus, we modified the shape of the product to better distribute the pressure on the face and to reduce discomfort in the nasal area. • More sizes available: As custom-made hard plastic parts will never deliver the relaxed feeling and face adaptability of commercial soft plastic components, the utility of our half-mask closely relates to finding the right size. To satisfy the widest set of users, we designed more size variants than offered in commercially marketed products. • Children's options: For children and adults alike, the conveniently trimmed XS and XXS sizes are available. The half-mask is not intended for minors who cannot put it freely on or off their face in problematic situations without assistance. A child wearing the mask must not be left unattended and requires continuous communication with an adult. • A larger XL size. • Less air leaks when on the face: Importantly, our efforts to optimize the product's shape increased user comfort while reducing air leakage. The improved model exhibits superior tightness compared to the H1 version. • Modified filter housing: Preliminary tests showed that a good-quality vacuum cleaner bag can be used as an improvised filtering medium. To facilitate smooth functioning of the filter, we adjusted its housing room and locking elements, thus decreasing spurious pressure on the active surface. • An innovated set of headstraps: A close fit on the face is ensured only when the straps have been attached to the head reliably. For this purpose, cross-tied fastening is recommended (the upper straps run above the ears while the bottom ones intersect them at the temples and run onto the crown of the head). • Indirect venting via lamellae: The filter is partly protected by lamellae that prevent diverse particles and droplets from impinging directly on the filter's surface; moreover, the lamellae direct exhaled air downwards to eliminate its straight impact on another person's body.