The development of 3D shaped knitted fabrics for technical purposes on a flat knitting machine

Abstract

The use of a new electronic flat knitting machine (Shima Seiki SES 122FF) for producing three dimensional shaped fabrics for technical purposes is described. The three methods which can be applied to knit to shape, i.e. using different structural combinations, using different loop lengths, and altering the number of knitting needles and knitted courses, are discussed. Further, the different knitted elements (tubular forms, spherical forms, box forms and car seat covers) developed on the SES 122FF machine are described in detail.