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NIH3D

Minimalist Surgical Mask Ear Loop Relief (SMELR) Band

Created by
Lutefisk_Mafia
Created:
4/9/20
Submitted:
3/6/23
Published:
3/6/23

Select an image below to view

3DPX-013733

Licensing:

CC-BY
55
1
Version 2

Category

Hardware & Devices
Devices and Hardware

Collection(s)

Approved Use

Prototype
Prototype
Description

This is a minimalist version of a surgical mask ear loop relief band (SMELR Band). There are many, many designs out there for these bands -- but most of them are more complex than they really need to be. This design has stripped the object down to the bare functional essentials: Spaced hooks for elastic or rubber bands strung along a connecting strip of material. The base model is 150mm long by 10mm wide.

 

The printed bands are thin enough that they can be trimmed down to make them smaller, if need be. The design can also be stretched along the y-axis as much as +50% without losing functionality, if one needs a longer strap.

 

All key contact edges have been filleted (rounded) to prevent the strap from snagging on hair or inadvertently pinching or cutting the mask straps.

 

I have test printed this model on a LulzBot Mini using Cura. On "high speed" print settings, I can print one of these bands in 5 minutes, using only .23 m of filament. This is about 1/3 the time and almost 1/3 the material used by other popular band designs. (The print bed on a Lulzbot Mini is pretty small, so I have to rotate the model 45 degrees to get it to fit on my print bed and can only print one at a time. Makers who have 3D printers with larger print beds could print multiple instances of the band in one go.)

Made

by webgecko


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