[NEOPMask] - Printable respirator with exchangeable filter [COVID-19 Aid]

Last crawled date: 2 years ago

More details at: 3dsprint.wixsite.com/printable-respirator

3D printable respirator mask. Reduced intake area to reduce external infiltration risk. Removable and customizable filter. 2 components only to reduce sealing issues between parts. Sealing with face guaranteed by thick neoprene strip. Tested on different faces shapes and sizes.

The product is meant for the public as a precautionary measure in order to reduce the waste of professional masks reserved to medical staff.

Product can be sterilized with alcohol solution or by heating up at about 60°C without damages.

EDIT: Added Filter_Cap_Angle. If you are using a HEPA filter or a piece of cotton, I suggest to use it.
The slots for air intake are inclined in order to deviate the intake velocity of the flow.
In this way air is forced to enter with an intake angle in the filtering media (rather than perpendicularly) crossing more useful filter volume and helping filtration by diffusion.
It won't make it become a super effective filter and it's a free contribution.
Other advantage is that the projected surface exposed to drops (if someone is in front of you) is virtually 0 (remember that ideally you want a DYI mask to be a shield more than a filter). Breathability is not affected since total intake area is similar to the other version.

EDIT 06.04.2020
Filter_Cap_Angle (see above) optimized for better intake on filter area.
Added Filter_Cap_Angle_SOS which is the same of the above one, with added SOS in morse code on the center area.
If you want to customize your cap, contact me either here or through the linked website.

EDIT 10.04.2020
Cheeks area slightly smoothed and bayonet lock correctly aligned.

EDIT 20.04.2020
Since I have been asked to create a kid version, I am uploading 3D_Kid_Printable_RespiratorMask_FilterMod_v6 which is the same with a reduction of size of about 10% that makes it look less big on a small face. Filter area remains the same so you can keep using the same filter cap.
For detailed dimensions, download the tech data from the website (currently only Italian but it's easily understandable from pictures).

EDIT 29.04.2020
Added new version with reinforced area near string holes. This guarantees no damage even with extreme tensioning of strings.

NOTE: Many DYI masks present a wide intake area in order to reduce the pressure drop and increase the filter efficacy.
This makes sense for high level filters, such as FFP3/FFP2 which need to have a wide intake surface (the whole mask) since they capture the virus particles by different mechanics (such as interception and impaction) which are badly influenced by pressure drops.
These 3D printed masks or dyi masks won't probably have that type of filter, but rather some cottons, fabrics or best case HEPA. Considering this last case (best solution), a standard one has a good filtration level with airflow up to 100 times the one of human breath. Moreover HEPA filters show a certain efficacy against viruses since they filter by diffusion which is a different mechanics, effective especially with low airflow (such as human breath).
This is the reason why for 3D printed masks with homemade filters (to be used as last resort instead of pieces of clothes) I believe it is a better approach to keep the intake area as small as possible (always taking into account the ratio with the nose intake area).
I see a 3D printed mask with homemade filters primarily as a shield and only secondarily as a low efficacy respiratory filter.