Updated: 7/17/2006 1:25:00 PM
To implement shapes developed with external shape design programs in knitting programs,Stoll has developed a special interface program and integrated it in its M1 und M1 knit&wear pattern software: the DXF Toolkit.
A CAD application typical in the textile industry is the design of shapes for webware.However, the Fully Fashion technology has meanwhile also become a standard for knittingwear. Here the individual pieces are not cut to shape, but are instead already knit true toshape on flat knitting machines.
Shapes for such knit-to-shape fabrics are usually designed on the pattern workstations developed for the respective knitting machine manufacturer and then combined with the knitting pattern. The data format of these shapes can usually only be used for this pattern workstation.
In contrast to this, powerful shape design programs almost always enable the shape data to be stored not only in their own data formats, but also in the DXF data format. This widespread industry standard is supported by many CAD systems, and is therefore especially well-suited for data exchange. A standard has been created especially for textile applications: the ANSI/AAMA-292 Pattern Data Interchange Data Format.To implement external shape design programs in knitting programs, Stoll has developed a special interface program, the DFX Toolkit, which has also been integrated in the company´M1 and M1 knit&wear pattern software.
DXF Toolkit
The program enables the data of the DXF file to be imported, displayed and, if necessary,automatically or manually adapted to the requirements of a Fully Fashion knitting shape.Knitting-relevant data, such as help lines and seams, must be faded out. Only pure outlines and help points are processed further. For these purposes, individual DXF layers can be deactivated, or they can be exchanged if they are not compliant with the ANS/AAMA-292 standard. Individual line sections can be eliminated if they are not part of the outline. The shape can be manipulated with additional functions of the DXF Toolkit. These include turning, mirroring, halving, shifting and scaling.
As the same work steps are almost always required to transfer shapes of the knitting program used to the Stoll M1 and M1 knit&wear pattern software, the DXF Toolkit enables the work steps to be recorded in macros. All work steps can then be worked through automatically with one call.
The files processed in this way can be loaded directly as shapes in the M1 shape editor,where the specific knitting parameters can be added to and individual adaptations can bemade. For example, narrowing and binding-off techniques can be defined. Now the shape can be applied to any desired knitting patterns.
Another possible application is the conversion of the DXF shape to a picture file, which can be implemented directly in an M1 pattern with the picture import function. In the process the shape is adopted and help lines are transferred to the pattern as colored lines.
This has considerably shortened the path from a "foreign" CAD shape design to a finished fabric.
Picture: A shape displayed in the DXF Toolkit
Horst Fries, development design systems
H. Stoll GmbH & Co. KG, Reutlingen
Authority in Charge: China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC)
Sponsor :China Textile Information Center (CTIC)
ISSN 1003-3025 CN11-1714/TS
