Page 26 - Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

Lay planning and marker making 3

in textile cutting operations

3.1 Introduction

Lay planning and marker making are processes that prepare and organize the work
in a cutting room. They can only be carried out when production orders of fabrics in-
clude the following information: technical documentation of all ordered styles, sets of
pattern pieces for all the styles, style samples, fabric specifications (see Section 2.3),
and fabric samples.

3.2 The basic principles of the lay planning process

Several basic parameters influencing productivity and work efficiency have to be
taken into consideration when planning work processes in a cutting room. The princi-
pal ones are the number of articles ordered for each size of a style, the technological
constraints of the spreading and cutting processes, maximizing fabric utilization, and
ensuring the best use of time and labour.

3.2.1 The number of articles ordered for each size of a style
The number of articles ordered for each size of a style is provided by the customer.
This information includes the total number of all the ordered articles, the number of
articles in each size and in each fabric quality (if a style is produced from different
fabrics), and their colours.

3.2.2 Technological limits of the spreading and cutting processes

The technological limits of the spreading and cutting processes are defined by the
maximum practical height of a spread. This is dependent on the fabric qualities and the
technical limits of cutting machines: the shape of a knife, its cutting action, and other
factors (see Chapters 8 and 9). If the quantity of articles ordered exceeds the maximum
practical number of plies that may be placed in one spread, several equal spreads will
have to be performed (see Section 4.2.8).

3.2.3 Maximising the efficient use of fabric

In making a marker, the most efficient conditions for fabric use must be taken into
account. These require the pattern pieces of at least two articles of different sizes be-
ing placed in one marker. It is preferable to combine the pattern pieces of largest and
Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102122-4.00003-2
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