Transducers for the measurement of forces in textile machinery

This paper describes the development of sensitive transducers to measure dynamically forces associated with the interaction of cams, needles and yarn in the weft knit process. The design principles of cam and yarn force transducers are discussed and their integration into a microcomputer-based control system is described. The experimental results demonstrate the range of application and the sensitivity of the transducers. The transducers were particularly important in validating theoretical models of the system and highlighting their deficiencies. The system provides the basis for the development of future test and control instrumentation on this type of machinery.