scuba mask strap + clip

thingiverse

For some bizarre reason my SCUBA masks strap got torn - while completely unused! It looks like someone bit a chunk out of it and also stole one of the foldback clips or whatever they're called.\r\n\r\nSo instead of buying a new one from a trusted diving gear store, I decided to take a risk with [yet another](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3052388) flimsy 3D printed SCUBA part.\r\n\r\nTo mimic the original strap's flexibility (which I'm pretty sure is a scientific term), I chose the stretchiest filament my extruder can handle, which is filaflex 82A. And I was surprised to find out that it's almost exactly as... flexible as the original. Let's hope that it won't lose this property when exposed to salty water and UV light. So I didn't test this underwater yet but I'll update here when everything goes well. And probably not if not.\r\n\r\nThe original strap (as can be seen on the pictures) has a wider center part which I decided to leave out in order to allow for a clean and support-free print. Don't know yet how this will affect wearing comfort in the long run, but it feels quite comfortable when I try it here in the open air.\r\n\r\nI highly recommend printing it in vase mode and with a 0.5-0.6mm nozzle!\r\n\r\nA few words for the foldback clips which actually aren't clips I guess: Print them in some harder material like PETG or nylon; I made them in PCTPE just for testing reasons but this is almost too soft.\r\n\r\nDisclaimer: I made the replacement for a specific model. It's the SEAC X Frame and I'm not sure if this strap will also fit other masks. \r\n\r\nedit: As announced, I've uploaded a picture of another printed belt with freshly dried filament. You can see on the close-up that the layers look much better but still it got worse the longer the print was taking. So roughly 1 hour (@ ~50% Rh) is enough for the filament to take up enough moisture to visibly affect print quality... that's worse than any nylon, ultem, peek, etc... I think I never had such a hygroscopic filament yet.\r\n\r\neditedit: Just a small update on the design (#21; picture soon to come). I increased the teeth-thickness and added some wavy pattern to increase springiness (which definitely is a technical term). Also I already tested the strap on a few shallow dives (~10m) and it's pretty ok. Not exactly as comfy as the wide original strap TBH but definitely better than none at all.\r\n\r\nediteditedit: Another update. There's a sports university which is kind enough to ~~spare some students~~ test my straps on their students on diving lessons and probably teaching them how to act underwater when equipment fails or something. New pictures of the transparent ones with a logo of that university show the current iteration. The one I've uploaded here is unbranded though.\r\n\r\nFeedback until now is: 0 students were harmed yet. And they didn't disintegrate yet (the mask straps, not the students). I'm curious on the long-term development of the disintegration aspect though: it's being tested in indoor pools, so some chlorine could cause problems with the TPU.