Surgical Mask Strap Remix
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About this print
A head-worn strap that holds surgical mask ear loops, taking the tension off the ears during extended mask use. It became widely used during the Covid-19 pandemic, with volunteers and community groups producing large quantities for healthcare workers. PLA is the most common material, being widely available and easy to print in volume, though flexible filaments can be used where a softer contact point against the head is preferred.
From the original design page
Original maker's notes
By Suraky on Thingiverse · CC-BY
Wow, at the end of it's first year on Thingiverse, this Thing became the most popular item on Thingiverse in the preceding 12 months. A year and a half after sharing it, it's still getting downloaded 75 to 100 times a day.
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Thank you to Quinn Callander, age 12, a Scout from Maple Ridge BC for creating so much attention with his viral Facebook post! Thanks to Quinn's efforts, and the pure luck that they linked to this thingiverse page in their post, this file has been downloaded 287,000 times! People all over the world are making Ear Savers for their local healthcare workers! Amazing coincidence, I'm from the same town! I'd sure like for him to know how far his good deed has gone to influence people to help out.
Global TV here in BC ran a story about Quinn which included me talking about how his story has led to people around the world printing ear savers: https://globalnews.ca/video/6814308/maple-ridge-scout-goes-world-wide-with-ear-gear
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If you comment here - please say what part of the world you are from, I'd love to see how far this has spread.
This remix is Identical to the original design shared by Marslam, but with a hole punched out in the middle portion of the strap to save material and print faster. Marslam's version is here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4202906
I would really like to thank Marslam again as the true designer of this part. I merely did a small modification to it and was lucky to be swept up into Quinn's viral Facebook post.
This thing has been reviewed and approved for use in a clinical setting by the NIH (US National Institute of Health)!!!
https://3dprint.nih.gov/discover/3dpx-013410
Intended to be used to hold the elastic straps of a surgical mask, to relieve the pressure of those on the ears. Apparently wearing a surgical mask all day can be hard on the ears.
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Since March 27 2020, I've personally produced 15,004 straps. Some of which I've made for my co-workers to use. 10056 have been distributed to the community and to health care providers by a volunteer group that I'm contributing to in the Vancouver BC area - YVRMERS (learn more about them here: https://www.facebook.com/YVRMERS/ ). They've distributed many tens of thousands of ear savers. So seek out your local health care providers, ask if this would help them, and get your printers going! This is a great way to contribute where you aren't having to compete with others for the same sheet plastic / transparency supplies to make face shields.
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I've received a few tips! Thank you all so much, it's really appreciated. I will use any tip money I receive to buy more filament to help keep my own printers cranking out ear-savers to donate to health care providers in my area. I've currently received enough tips to place an order for a few week's worth of filament!
Formatting may have been simplified. These are the independent maker's instructions and fitment claims; Hark Tech has not independently verified them.
Printing Surgical Mask Strap Remix
For Surgical Mask Strap Remix we would normally reach for PLA — it is the easy, economical default and suits the majority of models. We set the layer height, wall count, infill and supports to suit the model and how you will use it, and those choices are already priced into your instant quote. Want a specific colour or material? Tell us and we will match it where we can.
Model details
| Downloads at source | 298,161 |
|---|---|
| Likes at source | 14,369 |
| Original model | View on Thingiverse |
| Designer | Suraky |
| Licence | CC-BY |
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