Flexible Half-Mask Respirator with Face-Sealing Gasket

Description

________________________ INTRO This is a 3D-printed half-mask respirator. Unlike existing designs, this one should provide an excellent seal around the face, due to both its use of flexible filament, and a single nitrile glove acting as a gasket which conforms to the face shape of the wearer. No need for foam seals, for modifying the design according to each user, or the questionable seals of flexible prints against one's face. Moreover, since sanitary nitrile or latex gloves may be used; you can guarantee that the filtered air will not be potentially contaminated by the microscopic pores inherent in FDM prints. ________________________ DESCRIPTION One of the biggest issues with 3D-printed masks is that, because of the FDM printing process, they are not completely air or water tight. However, I found a way around this by using a nitrile or latex glove as a gasket: Air is filtered by common HEPA furnace filters, any any other flexible filter media cut to size and no more than 2mm thick. Air is then passed through a "tube/torus" that the nitrile/latex glove forms, so you're only breathing air through a sterile, seamless medium - no contact with the 3D print itself. It also seals very well - on par with a half-mask respirator with a silicone seal. Essentially, the 3D-printed part acts as a support structure to keep the glove sealed around your face, and to hold the filters. ________________________ SANITIZING & REUSE The 3D printed mask is intended to be reused and can be sanitized with 70C heat for 30 min., in a bath of hydrogen peroxide, or in a bath of 70%+ alcohol. This is backed up by peer-reviewed research, (linked below). The nitrile glove "gasket" could also be sanitized this way, or you can simply cut a new one. The filter cartridge is made of PLA, so if you want to sanitize the mask but throw away the cartridge, it can be added to a compost pile, or recycled into new filament! ________________________ TECHNICAL & PRINTING INFO I opted for a large filter area, which comes in at 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. You can find a photo demonstrating mask assembly attached to this upload. A .PDF on assembling the mask, as well plenty of research regarding the use/sanitizing of DIY masks, 3D printed masks, and HEPA filters in the listed QR code or HERE: https://gofile.io/?c=pwxyK9 For printing, refer to the following information and the part numbers in the diagram: All files can be printed according to standard TPU/PLA specs for the materials you are using. Slower is better for the TPU mask itself; half-mask_facepiece_tpu; PN01. half-mask_filter66x100_box corresponds to PN03A, half-mask_filter66x100_cover corresponds to PN05A, half-mask_filter66x100_cover5050 corresponds to PN05B half-mask2x3filter_mini4_fixed and half-mask2x3filter_minimalBB are experimental replacements for PN03A to use less HEPA material and less plastic. They take approx. 1/3 the time to make as PN03A. half-mask2x3filter_mini_retainer is to be printed in TPU elastomer and act as a compression ring to retain filter media stretched over the faces of half-mask2x3filter_mini4_fixed and half-mask2x3filter_minimalBB. Created by Derek B. Please contact me here, email deoxyribonucleic@ymail.com, or find on Instagram @baipin for questions. #FaceCoveringChallenge

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