Page 289 - Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

276 Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

head of the cutter and pattern-matching software. The pattern pieces are shifted and
slightly distorted in the initial marker to compensate for existing pattern irregularities
in the fabric spread placed on the cutting surface (see Section 16.4.2).

17.6.2.4 Cutting of the lace

After the marker is matched, automated cutting is performed.
2
Described work methodology is offered by Morgan Tecnica (Italy) company using
a pin table, an overhead projector, ‘Visual Nesť software, and ‘Next 50’ cutter for
lingerie manufacturing.

17.6.3 Fully automated laser cutting
Specialized CO2 laser cutters are used to process narrow lace in a fully automated
way. The single lay continues cutting process is performed by a specialized gan-
try laser cutting system (see Section 10.2.2.1) on the conveyorized work surface.
Automated feeding system feeds the lace in the work zone of the cutter. Similar as
processing patterned and digitally printed fabrics (see Sections 16.4.3 and 16.4.4),
the vision system of the machine captures an image of the lace pattern. Specialized
software identifies the pattern and its distortions and, in accordance with it, recal-
culates the geometry of pattern pieces and automatically launches cutting process.
After cutting is finished, the ready components are counted and fed to pick-up zone
where the operator unloads them. When the work process is finished in the certain
work zone, the machine automatically unwinds the lace roll and feeds the next part of
the lace to the cutting bed to continue the cutting process. Every obtained component
is identical in size and pattern. As the lace is narrow, the cutter and the work surface
have smaller dimensions compared with conventional textile cutters (e.g. 90 × 60 cm
or 180 × 100 cm).
Several companies have developed laser cutting systems to process narrow lace:
1
3
4
AL017 by Bierrebi, CM-VS180 by CamMesh, lace cutter by Alpha Systems, ETS-
5
960LF by Eastern Laser, and others. Fully automated single-ply laser cutters elimi-
nate marker making, multi-ply spreading, and pinning performed in the manual and
semiautomated lace processing. Automated process significantly increases work pro-
ductivity, ensures constant and high pattern-matching and cutting quality, and reduces
required floor space to performed spreading and cutting process (no need for spread-
ing tables, a separate cutting machines); besides, automated cutting process can be
operated only by one worker.

2 http://www.morgantecnica.com
3 http://cammech.net
4 http://www.cadmachinery.com
5 http://www.etlaser.com