China applies jet technology to create masks

To combat the Covid-19 epidemic, an infectious disease that has infected more than 200,000 people worldwide, countries are desperately in need of masks to protect their citizens from the risk of virus infection.

Worry about the supply of masks is increasing in many countries and of course also makes this item become more scarce and exhausted. In China, mask factories must operate around the clock to replenish the market.

Among them is the AVIC Production Technology Institute, a research organization that specializes in the supply of key aircraft processing technologies and equipment, engine development and plant upgrades in China.

For a manufacturer of aircraft technology and equipment, the transition to face masks is a whole new thing. However, after the engineers and technicians met, they came up with a design and production process after only 16 days.

The mask production line uses the same technology used to make parts on China's J-20 and J-10 fighter jets.

Li Zhiqiang, president of the research institute and project leader, said: "We made a digital simulation before actual production to avoid unnecessary errors, helping us save a lot of time".

Facemasks are manufactured according to a new process that saves both effort and higher output

Four facemasks were delivered to local masks factories urgently. Li said his organization plans to build 20 more new mask machines by the end of March. The daily production capacity could therefore reach 3 million units a day.

Here's how the operation of the mask manufacturing machine applying aircraft manufacturing technology will be like?

The machine automatically produces a 3-layer surgical mask. The outer layer is non-woven fabric, which inhibits bacteria. The middle layer is a water-separating fiber filter and the inner layer is a soft, absorbent nonwoven fabric, mainly used to absorb moisture radiating from the wearer's mouth.

The machine will first pull a 3-layer production material into the production line

Next, the fabrication material will be aligned into folds and cut into a mask

Then the machine will continue to transfer the mask to the two welding machines to glue the edges together

Finally, the device will continue to attach to the 4 sides of the mask. The mounting speed is about 50 pcs / minute.

Refer to CGTN