3 ms·

Ask HN: I want to 3D print masks – how?

2 points by eibrahim 7y ago

I want to 3d print masks but don't have a printer or experience. Is there a "getting started" guide? I don't know what printer to buy and what material, etc... Thanks.

aiscapehumanity 7y ago
I don't think it's necessary to strive for that as a beginner, an n95 can't be wholly printed well by an average maker let alone a beginner(no offense!). Printing just a normal mask, you'd probably do better printing face shields. Prakashlabs(foldscope and octopi inventor/leader) is already on exploring possibilities of nano fiber production, and a slew of people are trying to convert decathlon into n95 replacement candidates. So I'd ask do you really want to start your own project as a beginner or research WIP communities?
- eibrahim 7y ago
  I don't know what i want. I just want to help and also need an excuse to buy a 3d printer :)
  - aiscapehumanity 7y ago
    All good. I'd say try to print a face shield as your first real project after just playing in basic geometry. Good luck!
aiscapehumanity 7y ago
Prakashlabs info http://web.stanford.edu/group/prakash-lab/cgi-bin/labsite/publications/ http://web.stanford.edu/group/prakash-lab/cgi-bin/labsite/pu... As for anything else idk any groups intimately but this is a great doc (below) for resources, more than I have time to look over, but a trove of community responses https://coronavirustechhandbook.com/home https://coronavirustechhandbook.com/home
aiscapehumanity 7y ago
Update for the sake of this post as a perspective of project ideas too: An aerosol box idea. https://twitter.com/annimaniac/status/1244124967521751041?s=19 https://twitter.com/annimaniac/status/1244124967521751041?s=...
MScott3d 7y ago
You can print a working mask using both PLA or ABS filament, but then you'll need to change the surface of the printed model in order to reduce the risk of contamination. Here you can find a range of breathing mask 3D printable models: https://top3dshop.com/3d-model-finder/?q=breathing%20mask%20with%20screw%20in%20filters https://top3dshop.com/3d-model-finder/?q=breathing%20mask%20... This video includes a good tutorial on how to 3D print, assembly and finish a working breathing mask. I strongly suggest watching it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77PgC3kMrFs&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77PgC3kMrFs&feature=youtu.be

2 points by eibrahim 7y ago

I want to 3d print masks but don't have a printer or experience. Is there a "getting started" guide? I don't know what printer to buy and what material, etc... Thanks.

aiscapehumanity 7y ago

I don't think it's necessary to strive for that as a beginner, an n95 can't be wholly printed well by an average maker let alone a beginner(no offense!). Printing just a normal mask, you'd probably do better printing face shields. Prakashlabs(foldscope and octopi inventor/leader) is already on exploring possibilities of nano fiber production, and a slew of people are trying to convert decathlon into n95 replacement candidates. So I'd ask do you really want to start your own project as a beginner or research WIP communities?

eibrahim 7y ago
I don't know what i want. I just want to help and also need an excuse to buy a 3d printer :)
- aiscapehumanity 7y ago
  All good. I'd say try to print a face shield as your first real project after just playing in basic geometry. Good luck!

aiscapehumanity 7y ago

Prakashlabs info http://web.stanford.edu/group/prakash-lab/cgi-bin/labsite/publications/ http://web.stanford.edu/group/prakash-lab/cgi-bin/labsite/pu... As for anything else idk any groups intimately but this is a great doc (below) for resources, more than I have time to look over, but a trove of community responses https://coronavirustechhandbook.com/home https://coronavirustechhandbook.com/home

aiscapehumanity 7y ago

Update for the sake of this post as a perspective of project ideas too: An aerosol box idea. https://twitter.com/annimaniac/status/1244124967521751041?s=19 https://twitter.com/annimaniac/status/1244124967521751041?s=...

MScott3d 7y ago

You can print a working mask using both PLA or ABS filament, but then you'll need to change the surface of the printed model in order to reduce the risk of contamination. Here you can find a range of breathing mask 3D printable models: https://top3dshop.com/3d-model-finder/?q=breathing%20mask%20with%20screw%20in%20filters https://top3dshop.com/3d-model-finder/?q=breathing%20mask%20... This video includes a good tutorial on how to 3D print, assembly and finish a working breathing mask. I strongly suggest watching it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77PgC3kMrFs&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77PgC3kMrFs&feature=youtu.be