Sew-in Quick-Adjust Elastic Connector for Face Masks

prusaprinters

<p>Elastic connector tab designed to be sewn into cloth masks. Simply pull to adjust the elastic.</p> <p><strong>Field Tested - Mother Approved</strong><br/> <a href="https://youtu.be/tXLP6fNCRxg">How-To: Sewing Guide</a></p> <p>Loop around the ears<br/> <strong>OR</strong><br/> Cross bands across the back of the head.</p> <p>Print with a flexible material, TPU (which includes TPE), this adds a simple T-Slot cut to thread the elastic through and simply pull to adjust.</p> <p>OpenSCAD file included to enable Customization.</p> <h3>Story</h3> <p>My wife started sewing masks and giving them away to friends and relatives. Everyone loved their masks; however some said their mask was too small and others said theirs were too big.</p> <p>Sizing is judged by the tension of the elastic. Too tight, and the mask is too small. Too loose and the mask is too big. If only it was adjustable...</p> <h3>3D Printing</h3> <p>I have been printing ear savers with flexible material so I decided to see if it was possible to print a flexible tab that could be sewn into the cloth.</p> <p>Through experimenting I determined a grid design produced a strong flap that could be sewed through without notice.</p> <p>The simple TCut VSlot I created for my first POC worked much better than I anticipated. It holds the elastic without making a knot so you just thread and pull to adjust.</p> <p>Putting the two together my wife helped me tweak the parameters. She wanted a long tab so it would be easy to hold while sewing. Once we had it dialed in I printed a sheet to ship tabs to relatives making masks and published the model and OpenSCAD file for anyone who want to customize it.</p> <p>Please let me know if these work out for you and share a picture of your masks;)</p> <h3>Print instructions</h3><p>Flex Filament: TPU</p> <p>Examples are:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/3D-Solutech-Flexible-Printer-Filament/dp/B00VKSJGOM">Solutech TPU</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S7PCXTH">Priline TPU</a></li> </ul> <p>I've printed TPU with:</p> <ul> <li>Print Settings: 0.20mm Quality @MK3 </li> <li>Filament Settings: Generic Flex (Temp adjusted)</li> <li>Printer Settings: Original Prusa i3 MK3S [MMU2 Single]</li> </ul> <p>For these TPU offerings the manufacturer recommended 200-220 C and I have good luck at 215 C.</p>