Earplugs

thingiverse

Project homepage: https://github.com/jonnor/projects/tree/master/practical3d#ninjaflex-earplugs Inspired by advanced "HiFi" in-ear hearing protection designs. Made out of NinjaFlex to deliver exceptional performance. The model can be easily adapted for creating custom replacement earbuds for in-ear headphones. I don't have a commercial pair at hand for comparison, as they were misplaced. However, based on one hour of usage, the dampening level and comfort appear comparable. I'm eager to further test during upcoming concerts and trips. To achieve a better fit, feel free to adjust the diameter of the bud within the FreeCAD project file. As someone who uses small earbuds typically (medium size is sometimes acceptable), these designs are likely to fit within this range. Print two identical STL files for each pair. NinjaFlex works well for both parts. Printing the pin in PLA may also produce excellent results, though untested so far. The pin should fit snugly into the bud; when pulled, it shouldn't easily detach from it. To prevent losing a pair, you can wrap thread around the pin to join them together securely. For printing purposes, use a shell size of 2mm and disable infill for maximum comfort and efficiency in circular motions only. To minimize retraction requirements, I've also set the printer to 'one-by-one mode'. A note: FDM 3D-prints have an open structure that might be advantageous to bacteria growth. When using these custom earbuds, keep in mind they need frequent replacement.