Sanity check for surgical mask production machine
I'm working on a design which can be largely 3d printed, using widely available printer parts, and minimal components turned on a lathe. This machine will form pleats, fold them flat, heat seal the pleats along both vertical edges, and cut the individual masks.
I have one prototype for a pleat forming mold, and am also making a version that uses flat 'fingers' to push the pleats in. Here's the model of the first mold:
I think the rate limiter here is the heat bonding - I don't yet know what temps are needed and for how long. Aside from that, I think this could produce a mask every 4 seconds, or 900 an hour.
I'd love to hear if this sounds like an avenue worth pursuing.