Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters. Within the limitations of this technical report, the present findings suggest that customized 3D-printed face masks with enhanced adaptation can be digitally designed using face scans and free CAD software.ģD printing CAD/CAM COVID-19 face mask facial scanning. FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. The 3D-printed grid could clip exactly into the filter, which in turn could be precisely screwed into the body of the face mask. The area of facial contact matched the one digitally designed in the software. CAD (computer aided design) is a software (a program) for creating 3D models that can be used by, among others, 3D printers. VariCAD Viewer is a free viewer, converter and printing software working with 2D DWG, DXF, 3D STEP and 3D/2D VariCAD file formats. The customized 3D-printed face mask presented a higher adaptation compared with the conventional face mask.

Both face masks were tested on the same two volunteers. For the purposes of comparison, a conventional 3D-printed mask (from the original STL files, without being customized for the face scan) was also 3D printed from the original STL files. The resulting customized body of the mask plus the filter and grid STL files were exported and 3D printed with polylactic acid (PLA) filament using a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer. The body of the mask was then edited to fit precisely into the face scan STL by using the software's offset tool, followed by adjustments and smoothening of the surfaces of the edges. The imported mask described in this article is composed of three different STL files (body, filter structure, and grid). The procedure of creating customized face masks initially involved importing and aligning STL files of face scans and mask components in free CAD software.

To describe a method of digitally customizing 3D-printed face mask designs using 3D face scans and free software.

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