Sterilizer is constructed mostly of wood dowels and printed parts. This is a total re-design of a project that I posted a while ago. The changes include replacing all the metal parts with wooden dowels, updating printed parts everywhere in the assembly based on lessons learned from the first build, and replacing the glass payload container with the open basket shown below. This open design allows the full intensity of the UV light to irradiate the surface of the mask. Yes there are dowels, but as the basket rotates, every part of the mask is touched by UV. There's nowhere for the virus to hide. This system irradiates the every surface and edge of the mask, including the straps. you can leave it running for a few minutes to obtain multiple passes over the mask. This provides many times the recommended dose of UV required to inactivate the pathogens.
In the image below, the complete sterilizer model is shown. All of the green parts are printed. The rod structure is entirely composed of wooden dowels that I bought at Lowe's. The rods are cut to length and secured in the printed parts using common set screws. The screw threads are designed-in to the printed parts.
In the image below, the payload basket is visible in the outline of the sterilizer.
In the image below, the frame is highlighted separately.
In the image below, the reflectors are highlighted separately.
The exploded view below offers another perspective on the design.
The project was made using a Dremel 3D45 printer and a few basic hand tools. The only costly item was the UV-C lamp. There are many cheap UV-C lamps on amazon etc. Some of them do not emit UV-C. Some do. I recently found a lamp for $31 on Amazon that does produce a strong UV-C output. The only way to be sure is to check it with an accurate meter. Like the substandard masks out there, you must be careful that what you buy does what it is supposed to do. Especially if you can't see it (UV-C is invisible). Read more about UV-C in the link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_germicidal_irradiation
WARNING: Ultraviolet light (UV radiation) is harmful. The device described here should be operated away from people, children and pets. The device should be covered, both to minimize UV radiation outside the treatment area, and to reflect UV back onto the object to be sterilized. All the normal precautions associated with building and operating an electrically-powered system must be observed.
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