Ear Relief Strap for Medical masks - LowPoly

thingiverse

Most ear savers require a significant amount of bed space because they print flat. Additionally, many of them are adjustable on both ends, which isn't always necessary. The end designed to stay on the mask bands eliminates the need for a second loose piece. Printing these models on edge allows dozens to be laid out and run simultaneously. In Revision C, I've duplicated the part on its flat side. Interleaving the models on the hook side might be best done manually because the hooks may interfere with each other depending on their dimensions. They'll need to be offset accordingly. The STL's included in this file have a .7mm gap between each piece, but you can edit that in customizer using the variable "space." I removed the Rev B file as it seems Customizer can't work properly when there are multiple .scad files. The STL's included are 140, 150 or 160 mm long. OpenScad code is also provided with variables to adjust most values if you need different sizes. An 8mm band width (.4mm nozzle) is plenty strong and might be reduced for shorter print times. A 140mm X 10mm ear saver weighs about 1.5 grams when printed at 100% solid PLA. While it's not flashy, we need to produce lots of parts quickly in response to COVID-19. Men with larger heads have preferred the 160 mm length if you have the print area and time for it. Initially, I think a 140 or 150 mm ear saver is probably the best compromise depending on your capabilities. Keeping thicknesses thin enough to minimize toolpath passes is key to efficiency. The default dimensions are roughly optimized for those printing at .4mm, with the goal of each layer being one pass down the band and another pass doing the hooks along the way.