Page 161 - Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

148 Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

9.7.2.4 Multitool cutters

To enlarge functionality of the cutter working with wide range of technical textiles,
several companies offer laser or ultrasonic and knife cutting option on the same cutter.
Knife blades and a laser can be incorporated in the same toolhead or in two different
cutting heads fixed on two gantries (see Section 9.6).

9.7.3 Processing of technical textiles with different qualities

As it was mentioned before, technical textiles vary enormously in composition, width,
weight, thickness, and other qualities that influence their cutting process. Often they
require specific cutting equipment corresponding to certain application.

9.7.3.1 Processing of wide materials
For wide nonstretchable material cutting where the accuracy of cutting and marking
is essential, the lower cost and higher accuracy static tables are the best solution (see
Section 9.3.2.1). Usually, the cutting table is equipped with vacuum system to keep the
material fixed while being cut (see Section 9.3.4).

9.7.3.2 Processing of narrow materials

To cut narrow materials, small width cutters are available. If the cutter is considerably
wider than the material, a cutting surface masking sheet can be used to minimize the
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use of plastic cover (Shima Seiki cutters). To use whole width of the cutter, a marker
can be created to identify pattern pieces from parallel strips – on the cutting surface
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parallel laid narrow fabric pieces, spread from several narrow fabric rolls (Lectra for
processing narrow prepreg).
9.7.3.3 Processing of large size simple shape long components

In performing cutting of large size long length components, wide conveyorized cut-
ters used to have an unwinding device to feed the material directly from the roll (see
Section 9.3.3.1). A front extender to enlarge cutting area can be used too. If the material
is fed directly from the roll, the marker length is limited with the length of the fabric
in the roll only. Thus, there are no difficulties to nest long components with increased
marker efficiency. Cutting process can be performed by nonmotorized and motorized
round knives (see Section 9.3.1.2). A take-off table extender (see Fig. 9.13) and a re-
winding device can ease unloading and gathering of long cut components. In feeding
fabric directly from the roll, fully automated continuous work process can be ensured.

9.7.3.4 Processing of small components
In processing small intricate shape components, cutters with static tables are preferable
as they can ensure higher cutting precision than conveyorized ones (see Section 9.3.2.1).
Cutting process is performed by drag knives (see Section 9.3.1.1). Take-off part of the
cutter can be extended with add-on surface to give more time for small component