Micromachine Based Fabric Formation Systems

Commonly used in telecommunication, automotive and biomedical applications, microelectromechanical systems have limited successful commercial applications in other industries. This report briefly reviews MEMS, with a focus on sensors, and their limitations in the textile environment, as well as, outlines four potential projects for MEMS applications in textiles. One application was selected; monitoring warp end breaks and tension in weaving. Preparation taken for developing and building small scale MEMS based instrument is given and future plans is outlined. Goal and Objectives: The goal of this research is to develop fundamentally new approaches for processing fibers into textile structures using MEMS technology. Objectives of this research are: 1. Design new manufacturing techniques for textile structures, 2. Identify new applications for textiles, and 3. Improve traditional textile manufacturing. The short-term goals are to assess the potential uses of micromachines in textiles and furthermore to successfully build and test a micromachine based application. The application that has been selected is monitoring warp yarns in weaving. Thus replacing the traditional way of monitoring warp yarn breaks using heavy drop wires with MEMS based strain and force sensors that not only monitor yarn breakage but also measure and control warp tension during fabric formation. Eliminating the heavy and vibrating drop wires would significantly reduce yarn abrasion, and filament breakage. This should improve woven fabric manufacturing efficiency, quality. With MEMS based sensors low linear density warp yarn and hence lightweight fabric with higher surface area could be manufactured. MICROMACHINE BASED FABRIC FORMATION SYSTEMS REPLACING STOP-MOTIONS WITH SENSORS, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MEASURING WARP TENSION ONLINE