Vacuum Formed Stopgap Face Mask
Created by
akitt@ewi.org
Created:
4/22/20
Submitted:
3/6/23
Published:
3/6/23
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Description
This face mask was designed to be rapidly scalable and to provide a comfortable fit to the face. It has the potential to function as a stopgap face mask for medical practitioners or for public use. It has not undergone medical validation.
As assembled mask consists of two mask shells with a filter sandwiched between them. N95 filter material is recommended. Elastic bands are used to secure the mask to the head and a closed cell sponge is used around the nose to add comfort.
Mask shell are manufactured by vacuum forming thin (0.030”) flexible material (LDPE). The vacuum forming process can scale rapidly: A single production vacuum forming system can manufacture 1,000 mask shells in four hours at less than $0.50 per shell. Additionally, using thin, flexible materials provides the compliance for a comfortable fit to the face.
Prototypes were manufactured using additively manufactured vacuum forming molds.
Bill of Materials and Manufacturing Instructions are included in the supplemental documents.
