INTERACTIVE APPLICATION FOR THE SIMULATION OF NEEDLE TRAJECTORY IN A KNITTING SYSTEM
INTERACTIVE APPLICATION FOR THE SIMULATION OF NEEDLE TRAJECTORY IN A KNITTING SYSTEM

Summary/Abstract: Knitting is the operation of the technological process in which needles transform the yarns into loops that by interlooping become stitches. If the loops are formed horizontally, the fabric is considered weft knitted, while if the loops form successively along the vertical direction, the fabrics are warp knitted. In the case of weft knitting, the needles are placed in one or two beds and are driven by the cam system that includes raising cams (tuck and clearing cam) and stitch cams. The needles are raised to the clearing point and then they descend to the knitting point. The vertical movement is successive for the needles, as the cams come into contact with the needle butts and the needles are engaged on the cam track. According to the position of the cams in the system, the needles can follow the same trajectory or a different one. The present study aims to simulate a knitting system and the needle trajectory within it using Google Sketch Up and the Sketchy Physics plug-in. The Google Sketch Up program allows to model complex 3D forms and it is used to draw the static model – knitting cams, needles and their housing (the needle beds). The dynamic is simulated using the Sketchy Physics plug-in that respects physical and mechanical characteristics of solids. The model is used to show the students the basics of the needles trajectory. For academic purposes, the simulation steps were recorded with the explanations and the students can watch and repeat them in their own rhythm.

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