INTERACTIVE APPLICATION FOR KNITTED STRUCTURES BASED ON 3D PRINTED MACROMODELS

Abstract

A significant number of students in the textile engineering programs have problems understanding and viewing the 3D geometry of complex shapes such as yarn evolutions specific to the knitted structures. Therefore, the lectures in knitting engineering must include specific instruments to explain and characterize the textile structures in a direct visual manner. The current application is intended to simplify the students' understanding of fabric geometry and to enhance their capacity of 3D modelling based on their graphic skills and competencies previously acquired. The current application applies 3D development and printing technologies for modelling to explain basic fabric structure to 2nd year students. Through this application the student acquire skills in analyzing the knitted fabric structure, to develop 3D models and to use 3D printing techniques applied to textile industry. It shows the steps to be followed for creating different 3D macromodels of knitted structures using Autocad, to export them and to produce the macromodels using Prusa MK3 3D printing equipment and Prusa Slic3r application. Also the application present the main parameters that must be set in order to ensure an adequate support layer for printed geometry of the structure. The interactive aspects are ensured by the direct implication in development of 3D geometrical aspect of the stitch models. The students are able to understand the modelling and macromodels developing process in real time. By creating the macromodels, they can better understand possible errors with regard to fabric structure. For academic purposes, the steps were recorded with the explanations and the students can watch and repeat them in their own rhythm.