This study explores the optimisation of electrospinning parameters to enhance the strength and orientation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber mats, which are pivotal in filtration applications and other areas requiring high-strength, uniformly distributed nanofibers. The focus is on the electrospinning process, particularly when a rotating drum collector, which is instrumental in determining the nanofibers' morphology. Key process variables, including the distance between the collector and the syringe, feed rate, applied voltage, and polymer concentration, were meticulously examined to understand their influence on the physical properties of PAN nanofibers. Our findings indicate that parameters such as voltage, collector-to-syringe distance, and drum rotation speed (RPM) significantly impact the mechanical performance of the nanofiber mats. The optimised electrospinning conditions produced PAN nanofiber mats with tensile strengths ranging from 1.61 MPa to 21.78 MPa, demonstrating a notable improvement in strength due to controlled fluid dynamics and expulsion of polymer solution during the process.