Can wearing masks stop the spread of the coronavirus? [Some, yes: see images]

There’s solid scientific data demonstrating that masks do an incredible job at blocking particulate pollution, but what about the coronavirus particles? Viruses are tiny! Can masks get those?

This means coronavirus particles are smaller than the oft-mentioned PM2.5 standard, but bigger than some dust particles and gases.

3M N95 masks captured over 95% of particles down to 0.007 microns. That’s over 10 times smaller than the coronavirus. What might be surprising to some is that the surgical mask was able to capture 80% of the tiny particles...

In another study, when scientists looked only at viable virus particles, they found that N95 masks performed even better, letting through 2% of virus particles.

Conclusion: Masks – including surgical masks and N95 masks – can capture virus particles and even particles that are over 10 times smaller than the coronavirus...

Several 3M masks were able to capture over 99% of tiny 0.01 micron particles (10 times smaller than the coronavirus), even while on people’s face. What’s more, surgical masks were surprisingly effective, capturing 63% of the tiny virus-sized particles. Bottom line: Masks can capture even the smallest particles – those 10 times smaller than viruses. What’s more, they work surprisingly well even while people are wearing them.

Here is my upgrade recipe (project is in flight and is subject to change)

Frame - something like https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1752766
There are several varients of this design available on the Internet and Thingiverse. Will try to work out a system that uses a rack and pinion instead of belts. The idea is to mount the rack to the underside of the rail and use the Nema motor to direct drive. Less backlash that way and with the right gearing, very precise. Likely will use for X and Y but keep Z a screw drive.

Hotend mount - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:992952
I had this printed in PETG and delivered via mail for about $17. I have tried the fit and it works well. Have not yet tried it in production. Uses two 30mm fans for cooling and the E3D comes with the hotend cooling fan that just snaps on. Due to the hotend being so close to the shroud, I will add a silicone sock (https://e3d-online.com/v6-silicone-socks-pack-of-3) and some aluminum foil tape to protect the shroud against the heat. Also will drill two small holes in the fan shroud to allow a small part of the air to flow between the shroud and the hotend. I will need to add two 30mm fans and have to check the amps on the 5v channel to make sure that three fans (two print coolers and one hotend cooler) wont overload the channel.

E3D is my go to shop for hotends and electronics (www.e3d-online.com)

Hotends
- single extrusion E3d v6 (https://e3d-online.com/v6-all-metal-hotend) Alreay have two but they are 3mm filament. Since much of the market is moving to the 1.75mm, I will likely change over.
- dual extrusion water cooled cyclops (https://e3d-online.com/hotends/multi-extrusion). This will require 2 bowden tubes for filament and 2 bowden tubes for the water, but will allow the printing of much wider range of materials plus the ability to print supporting material.

Extruders - Default Ultimaker extruders SUCK!
Will upgrade to the e3d Titan (https://e3d-online.com/titan-extruder)

Electronics
Currently RAMPS 1.4. Likely to upgrade to the Duet ethernet (https://e3d-online.com/duet-ethernet-electronics-controller-card-v1-04). This moves me out of RAMPS and into RipRap firmware. It supports dual extruders on the main board and also supports a hotbed channel. May need to change my current plan for the hotbed (see below). Will want to also get the upgraded screen (https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/PanelDue)

Hot bed -
Not sure of the exact configuration yet but I am PLANNING to go with a silicone heating pad under an aluminum bed for even heat and a top layer of silicon carbide glass. Likely powered of a manual switch and PC powersupply but may run from the mainboard.

That is all I have worked out for now. Long term dreams include
- a larger print area (12in x 12in x 3 feet - 300mm x 300mm x 900mm). This will require a fixed bed and a gantry system instead of the z axis moving the bed, I will need to move the head vertically.
- enclosed print area with ventilation fan
- drawer for electronics
- filament recovery system (bad print breakdown, remelt and extrude as filament)
- write all of this up so others can follow suit if they desire. BOM, sources, costs, assembly, etc. The ultimate personal goal is to go further into the manufacturing process and go through how to build a benchtop armory for making firearms, put on a DVD and sell to the prepper community.
- convert bedroom to 3d printing room
- gift for the wife to keep her from being so mad at me

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