Minimalist Surgical Mask Strap

thingiverse

This is a streamlined version of a surgical mask ear loop relief band (SMELR Band). Most designs out there for these bands are overcomplicated, so this design strips down to the bare essentials. It features spaced hooks for elastic or rubber bands strung along a connecting strip of material. The base model measures 150mm long by 10mm wide. The printed bands are thin and can be trimmed to make them smaller if needed. The design can also be stretched up to +50% along the y-axis without losing functionality, making it suitable for longer straps. All key contact edges have been rounded to prevent snagging on hair or pinching/cutting mask straps. I've test printed this model on a LulzBot Mini using Cura and achieved impressive results. On high-speed print settings, one band can be printed in just 5 minutes, using only .23m of filament. This is about 1/3 the time and almost 1/3 the material used by other popular band designs. Makers with larger print beds can print multiple instances of the band at once, saving time and materials.