Knitting Machine: Difference between revisions
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These are best suited for producing garments with large surface areas, especially with chiefly rectangular surfaces. For example, scarves are easily made in one job, and sections can be sewn together to produce sweaters. | These are best suited for producing garments with large surface areas, especially with chiefly rectangular surfaces. For example, scarves are easily made in one job, and sections can be sewn together to produce sweaters. | ||
Recently people have been [http://yearofopensource.net/the-wonderful-wooly-world-of-hacked-knitting-machines/ hacking this type of knitting machine], | Recently people have been [http://yearofopensource.net/the-wonderful-wooly-world-of-hacked-knitting-machines/ hacking this type of knitting machine], on ones that were produced in the latter 20th century for use with early desktop computers, in order to make them programmable with modern computer hardware. | ||
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[http://etcetorize.blogspot.ca/2010/11/spool-knitting.html Their theory of operation is relatively simple], but as far as I know there are no CNC designs in the public domain, although there is [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=sock+knitting+machine&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5 a lot of information] to search through and [http://www.oldtymestockings.com/sock_machines_english.html many images] of actual machines with long-expired patents. | [http://etcetorize.blogspot.ca/2010/11/spool-knitting.html Their theory of operation is relatively simple], but as far as I know there are no CNC designs in the public domain, although there is [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=sock+knitting+machine&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5 a lot of information] to search through and [http://www.oldtymestockings.com/sock_machines_english.html many images] of actual machines with long-expired patents. | ||
While the 100-year-old steel machines look like they could be very difficult to replicate in a basic fab-lab due to their intricate construction, the existence of more recent 'toy'/'hobby' versions, constructed with chunky plastic, seems to indicate that this could be possible on your average RepRap Prusa-Mendel, so long as small size is not an initial requirement. Getting hold of one to take apart and reverse-engineer may be a good short-term goal. | While the 100-year-old steel machines look like they could be very difficult to replicate in a basic fab-lab due to their intricate construction, the existence of more recent 'toy'/'hobby' versions, constructed with chunky plastic, seems to indicate that this could be possible on your average RepRap Prusa-Mendel, so long as small size is not an initial requirement. Getting hold of one to take apart and reverse-engineer may be a good short-term goal. - [[User:4ndy|Andy D]] | ||
==Product Ecology== | ==Product Ecology== | ||
Revision as of 00:29, 24 May 2014
Knitting machines were developed throughout the 20th century in order to speed up what was otherwise a very time-consuming process for producing clothing. Initially they improved upon an operation ostentibly involving two knitting needles, by using moving carriages past a row of small moveable hooks, and then allowed for those pins to be selected by a computer program. Each step represented an order of magnitude decrease in human labour-time needed to make a given garment.
Linear Knitting Machines
These are best suited for producing garments with large surface areas, especially with chiefly rectangular surfaces. For example, scarves are easily made in one job, and sections can be sewn together to produce sweaters.
Recently people have been hacking this type of knitting machine, on ones that were produced in the latter 20th century for use with early desktop computers, in order to make them programmable with modern computer hardware.
Circular Knitting Machines
These are more appropriate for producing garments that involve tube sections where a seam sewn along its length can cause discomfort, e.g. socks, stockings, winter hats and sleeves for other garments. Their utility, while arguably narrow, is very powerful since they can produce socks in minutes with a skilled operator, and socks/hosiery are generally the type of garments that wear out fastest.
Their theory of operation is relatively simple, but as far as I know there are no CNC designs in the public domain, although there is a lot of information to search through and many images of actual machines with long-expired patents.
While the 100-year-old steel machines look like they could be very difficult to replicate in a basic fab-lab due to their intricate construction, the existence of more recent 'toy'/'hobby' versions, constructed with chunky plastic, seems to indicate that this could be possible on your average RepRap Prusa-Mendel, so long as small size is not an initial requirement. Getting hold of one to take apart and reverse-engineer may be a good short-term goal. - Andy D
Product Ecology
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