Mechanical Engineering Grad Students Help Make Health Care Masks

Story shared by Bailey Pawlicki, NDSU engineering student

North Dakota State mechanical engineering graduate students are helping in the fight against the Covid-19 virus. Joe Fehrenbach, graduate student and researcher, is putting his research knowledge to the test, in order to create and perfect a prototype N-95 mask that healthcare workers can use in order to work safely and effectively. He is teaming up with another graduate student, as well as test engineer Rob Sailer in order to achieve this task.

This group of students and researchers is partnered with ComDel Innovation out of Wahpeton, ND. This company is known for its injection molding and their rapid development of products. They are using a brand new 3D printer located in one of the mechanical engineering labs in order to produce these masks, as this printer can handle much larger jobs and uses a quality plastic resin that can hold up in tough conditions. As well as making the mask, this group also attached a filter to the mask with a clip to hold it on there.

After being able to find the right material to make the masks disposable, they knew this design was going to be put to good use. They are working closely with ComDel to discuss the possibility of making the design cheaper. Once the mold is made, ComDel would be able to produce thousands of masks a day, which in a situation where time is of the essence, is a very good thing. There will be both a reusable mask that can be cleaned and sterilized with alcohol, while the disposable mask can just be thrown away. Knowing these guys working on this project, in conjunction with Dr. Chad Ulven, who has years of experience with materials science, it is incredible to see the resources that the university offers is being put to great use.