Page 156 - Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

Automated cutting of textile materials 143

Converter Generator

Horn
Cut material
Special surface
Fig. 9.28 Schema of ultrasonic cutting process.

particular process or fabric is a specific procedure. Some nonsynthetic materials such
as Kevlar and cardboard that do not melt can be also cut by ultrasonic systems. Their
fibres are strained by the vibrations and easily parted by the cutting tool.
Ultrasound is a cold cutting method that does not utilize heat or water. This is
especially useful in materials that are sensitive to heat or water. Ultrasonic cutting
does not remove any material as it performs the cutting process by separating the
material rather than cutting it. As a result, high accuracy and clean edges are obtained.
Ultrasound eliminates dust and does not generate the pollutants and fumes associated
with other cutting methods.

9.5.2 The use of ultrasound to cut textiles

Ultrasonic cutting is common in the manufacture of textiles where melted and sealed
edges free from fraying are required. Ultrasonic cutters are also good for thick fabrics
or fabrics with an uneven weave or variation in thickness, where laser cutting often
gives a poor edge finish. Automated cutter can process a single material ply and also
low-fabric spreads. It enables a single-ply cutting process straight from the roll or
from fixed ply of material, with either a conveyor or a static table. Ultrasonic cutting
ensures a high level of accuracy in both simple and complex shapes and notches.
The ultrasonic ply cutter operates in a similar manner to an oscillating knife.
The blade oscillates up and down, while the lateral movement is guided by a
computer-controlled head.
Automated ultrasound cutters to process textiles are ‘Premiumcut ULS’ by Topcut
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Bullmer , ‘Elektron B2 Ultra’ by Aeronaut , and others.

9.6 Multipurpose cutters

The boundaries between different cutter types available on the market today are
bridged by a number of dual- or multipurpose cutting systems that use more than one
cutting method. These have been developed to cut a wider range of materials than the
traditional cutting systems.