Shape modeling of 3D knitted fabrics

Abstract

The development of 3D knitted fabrics includes a large range of applications in the technical fields. Their main advantage refers to their excellent formability, the possibilities of obtaining fabrics with complex architectures during the knitting process. Computer controlled weft flat knitting machines are well suited for manufacturing 3D structures, due to their technical features: electronic needle selection, specific transfer mechanisms and machine quick set-up. CAD systems facilitate the development of sandwich structures with different patterns and shapes. The paper approaches the design of knitted fabrics based on the correlation between 3D geometrical shape and 2D evolutes, corresponding to the knitted fabric. The paper also presents the mathematical modelling of the fashioning lines.