Flexible Half-Mask Respirator with Face-Sealing Gasket

thingiverse

INTRO This 3D-printed half-mask respirator provides an excellent seal around the face thanks to its use of flexible filament and a single nitrile glove acting as a gasket. The gasket conforms to the face shape of the wearer, eliminating the need for foam seals or modifying the design according to each user. DESCRIPTION The biggest issue with 3D-printed masks is their inability to be completely air or water tight due to the FDM printing process. However, I found a way around this by using a nitrile or latex glove as a gasket: Air passes through common HEPA furnace filters and any other flexible filter media cut to size and no more than 2mm thick. The air then flows through a "tube/torus" formed by the nitrile/latex glove, so you're only breathing air through a sterile, seamless medium - no contact with the 3D print itself. SANITIZING & REUSE The 3D printed mask is designed to be reused and can be sanitized with 70C heat for 30 minutes in a bath of hydrogen peroxide or in a bath of 70%+ alcohol. This method is backed up by peer-reviewed research. The nitrile glove "gasket" can also be sanitized this way, or you can simply cut a new one. The filter cartridge made of PLA can be recycled into new filament if desired. TECHNICAL & PRINTING INFO I opted for a large filter area of 6500mm^2 - 35% larger than the 4225mm^2 filter area of the similar Montana Mask design. This should allow for better respiration with less CO2 buildup in the mask interior, although such buildup may be an overstated problem with any mask design of this type. For printing, refer to standard TPU/PLA specs and the part numbers in the diagram. All files can be printed accordingly. Half-mask_facepiece_tpu; PN01 requires slower speeds for optimal results.