Under the situation of the shortage of epidemic prevention materials, Michelin, a French tire manufacturer, has put all its 10 factories into production of medical surgical masks to support the medical workers in the front line of the epidemic prevention, hoping to produce 400000 first-class masks every week.

Michelin, together with CEA of French Atomic Energy and alternative energy commission, has developed a mask that can be reused for 100 times. Michelin named the mask "ocov" mask. Unlike FFP2 mask, the filter layer in the middle of ocov "mask can be removed and cleaned. The mask is equipped with a cleanable filter that can be used for 20 times.

Behind the design of this mask, CEA and Michelin use 3D printing technology. The team of engineers tested five different prototypes in just 15 days. 3D printing first enabled engineers to iterate the product several times and provide functional prototypes in a record time. The industry group explained that it used a resin machine to design the flexible part of the mask. During 20 hours of printing, it obtained various ingredients and then boiled them for 20 minutes. The R & D team uses 3D printing equipment to make samples, and multiple doctors verify the feasibility of the product.

They jointly developed fmp1 and P2 masks, which are more efficient and more complex than FF masks, because they cover the nose, mouth and chin, and include filters for replacement and reuse. By the end of May, 350000 bookings had been completed, with a production target of 500000.

The masks, which will be sold in France on April 8, will be sold for 28 euros / piece, each with 5 washable filter layers. According to the designer, the new mask is designed according to the FM level standard. Generally, the filter rate of the FM level standard mask is five times higher than that of the FF level mask.

Sources from: https://creality3dpro.store/blogs/news