Printing Face masks for COVID-19

Since we get this question a lot, and I mean A LOT, we thought it may be of value to make a blog post:
As many people find themselves with plenty of time on their hands these days, they have started looking into ways to helping with the fight against the pandemic. With worsening worldwide shortages of certified PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for our frontline healthcare workers, several governments around the world have begun asking their citizens to take advantage of homemade / non-certified facemasks instead. This includes an increasing number of 3D printable designs and campaign drives.*

Our customers are inquiring on the best material to use for 3D printing facemasks, and PETG seem to us as an obvious choice due to its flexibility, weather proofing and relatively easy print characteritics. A neutral or white color gives it a clean medical apperace. Keep in mind that if you purchase as least 8 spools of the same color you will get a discount without paying extra (or any!) shipping fees in most cases. You can find our PETG assortment here.

Please stay safe and happy printing!

*3D printing is all about empowerment, and while we obviously encourage people to take action to keep themselves safe during this time, proper face mask use can be difficult. There are many discussions on the subject of homemade masks right now and we cannot make any claims on their protective benefits. Many disease experts also say that a bad mask is worse than no mask. We highly recommend you research the various options and limitations of such designs. Lastly, a reminder that WHO guidelines say that the best way to slow down and stop the COVID-19 pandemic is by practising proper social distancing and self-isolation.