New Machine Concept for Producing 3-D Stitch-Bonded Fabrics

D stitch-bonded textile preforms allow for complicated fiber configurations and a more efficient component assembly, as compared to the multi-step fabrication process, to create preforms by forming and joining. A prerequisite for such a perform, however, is the devel- opment of a one-step textile fabrication process. This paper presents a newly developed ma- chine concept of a single-step processing solution based on a variable warp yarn delivery, which makes the production of both net-shaped plan and 3-D stitch-bonded textile preforms possible without any hardware changes. Existing constraints and conformable strategies for the development of a universal solution for producing preforms with varied and complex geometry are elucidated. A new warp yarn delivery system employing NC-Drive units for individual warp yarn delivery together with a differential doffing unit was designed and presented herein. With this innovation, the textile branch benefits from extended possibili- ties in the development of new quality products to improve their market positions while suc- cessfully catering to meet the existing economic challenges.