Spreading Parameters

Spreading :

Spreading is the processes of superimposing lengths of fabric on a spreading

table/ cutting table or specially designed surface in preparation for the cutting

process

A spread or lay-up is the total amount of fabric prepared for a single marker

Requirements of Spreading process

•Shade sorting of cloth pieces (batching/dye lot no)

•Correct ply direction and adequate lay stability

•Alignment of plies (at one edge)

•Correct ply tension(Relaxation/mc with positive feed)

•Elimination of fabric faults (make –through, cut out at lay, sort & re cut,

display of faults position on screen wrt. marker)

• Tight Selvedges

•Elimination of static electricity

•Avoidance of distortion in the spread (glazed paper, flotation table)

•Avoidance of fusion of plies during cutting( anti fusion paper)

Nature of Fabric Packages

1. Open Fabric – Rolled2. Tubular Knitted Fabric – Rolled and Plaited3. Folded Fabric – Rolled and Plaited4. Velvet-Hanging

Spreading Equipments

Spreading Surfaces• Separate cutting and Spreading Tables• Air floatation• Pin Tables• Vacuum tables

Spreading Equipments

Fabric control devices• Tensioning• Positoning devices• Width Indicator• End Treatment devices• Folded Tubular Fabric

Spreading Time and Cost

Cost of spreading can be focused on four areas

• Spreading Time• Labor cost• Fabric waste and• Equipments purchases

Methods of spreading

•Spreading by hand

•Spreading using a travelling machine (100 to 150 yards per minute)

( Dead Heading

Spreading mode :

•Spreading mode is the manner in which fabric plies are laid out for cutting

•Direction of the fabric: it may be positioned in two ways face-to-face (F/F) or with all

plies facing-one-way (F/O/W)

•Direction of the Fabric Nap: it may be positioned nap-one-way (N/O/W) or nap- up-

down

Spreading mode

F/O/W N/O/W

F/F N/O/W

F/F/ N/U/D

F/O/W N/U/D

Setup for spreading :

•Verifying cutting orders

•Positioning materials

•Preparing cutting tables

•Preparing machines

•Loading machine

• Reloading and delay time may use up to 70% of the time required for the

entire spreading operation

Spreading

• Definition

• Height of spread in manual and computerized cutting m/c

• No of plies – low , medium, high ply cutters

Spreading modes

• Direction of fabric face

• Direction of fabric nap

Direction of fabric face

• Face to face (F/F)

• Face one way (F/O/W) Two types - Face up Face down

Face to face

• Continuous spreading

• Fastest

• Least costly

• Used for symmetric, non – directional fabrics

• Lowest quality

F/O/W• Time consuming

• Expensive

• Fabric is cut at each end

• Turn table usage can avoid dead heading

• Operator can monitor face for flaws

• Helpful in spreading prints, directional. • Pile fabric, corduroy, velvet are spread face down.

Direction of fabric nap

• Nap one way (N/O/W)

• Nap up and down (N/U/D)

N/O/W• Asymmetric

• Directional fabric

• Most time consuming

• Gives best quality

• May be F/F or F/O/W • F/F is pair spreading

• Fabric cut and roll turned for each ply in F/F

Nap up and down

• Continuous spreading

• Fastest

• Least costly

• Used for symmetric, non – directional fabrics

• Lowest quality

Example

• Directional, symmetrical• Marker mode : nap one way• Spread mode : f/f or face one way ; nap one

way

Example 2

• Directional, Asymmetrical• Marker mode : nap one way• Spread mode : face one way ; nap one way

Example 3

• Non - Directional, Symmetrical• Marker mode : nap either way• Spread mode : face to face ; nap either way

Example 4

• Directional, Asymmetrical• Marker mode : nap one way• Spread mode : face one way ; nap one way