The "SeaMass" Modular Ear Saver Design - Thin, Flexible, Versatile

thingiverse

Major Update: Now Available: Injection Molded Version on Amazon! Please continue printing and sharing this design! To save some ears quickly and cheaply, you can purchase packs here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FQDY3W1 Contact me directly to discuss resale or large orders. We can scale up production to over 1M units per month. Special thanks to Linda Francis for putting together the 1-page instruction sheet! Check it out in the downloads section. This ear-saving mask strap is designed to relieve weight, pressure, and abrasion on your ears from wearing an ear-loop style mask all day. It also snugs up the mask, improving the seal against your face and overall comfort. This design prioritizes user experience, reduced print speed, material use, strength, and modularity/versatility! I've identified several issues with popular "gull wing" style Ear Savers (features list below). Over 7,000 have been provided to local hospitals and the community with rave reviews! I can fit 13 parts on an Ender3 build plate and 20 parts on a CR-10. To achieve this, I turned off the skirt, moved the purge line 3mm from the edge of the bed, and slightly increased the build volume in Cura's machine config. Be careful not to collide with bed clips! For the Ultra Lite model, here are my print quantities and times: CR-10 - 20 Straps - Speeds: 100% = 4:30, 150% = 3:45 Ender3 - 13 Straps - Speeds: 100% = 2:45, 150% = 2:20 Note: Don't forget to bend your desired tabs out! Most materials are compliant enough to support this (Works well with PLA and PET). Before bending, you can reduce the risk of the tab breaking by heating the strap with a hair dryer, soaking in warm water, or even just holding it in your hand for a minute to leverage body heat. This design is optimized for .4mm nozzle and .28mm layer height. The final part is .84mm thick (Ultra Lite Model) or 1.2mm thick (the other models), providing excellent strength and flexibility when printed with standard materials like PLA! See the Print Settings section for slicer settings/tips. UPDATE: After testing, I've uploaded a new "Ultra_Lite" model. This model is only .84mm thick! Try it out and see if you prefer it to the other models! Features: - Easy to install! Use your finger to bend out your preferred tab; this makes it easier to install without having to feel for the correct position each time or getting caught on undesired tabs. - Lock one side in place! The holes in the center of the tabs allow you to lock the mask strap in place. You can use a hair tie to anchor it down! - Double it up! Print two and link them together by inserting their tabs into each other! This provides 7 additional levels of length adjustability! - Customize your fit! Along with previous customization suggestions, you can use a hair dryer to heat and permanently bend the strap to the contour of your noggin. You can also bend it without heat, but make sure the strap is at room temperature or warmer to minimize the risk of fracture. - Share it with the world! These straps are a simple way to make life easier for many people. If masks are easier to wear, more people will wear them; which is better for everyone in times like this. - Give direct and honest feedback on the design in the comments! As an Engineer, I'm always looking for ways to innovate on behalf of my customers! All feedback, especially critical, is welcome and appreciated!