Circular Braiding Machine

Circular braiding machines (maypole braiders) interlace yarns from bobbin carriers (16–144 carriers) moving in alternating clockwise-anticlockwise orbital paths around a central mandrel or take-up point — horn gears (carrier count/4 gears, rotation speed 50–300 rpm) guide carriers in sinusoidal over-under interlacing paths. Braid angle (15–75° to product axis, adjusted by ratio of machine speed to take-up speed) determines mechanical properties: low angle (15–25°) maximises axial tensile stiffness for rope applications; high angle (70–75°) maximises pressure containment for hose reinforcement. Machine parameters: carrier count (16 for 2 mm cord, 144 for 50 mm industrial braid), yarn package weight (50–500 g per carrier), and speed (50–300 rpm). Production rate: 5–50 m/min for cord diameters 2–30 mm; 0.5–5 m/min for 50–200 mm diameter structures. Medical catheter braiding (16–48 carrier, stainless steel wire 0.05–0.15 mm or PA monofilament 0.10–0.20 mm, braid angle 60–70°) provides torque transmission and kink resistance for cardiac catheters, endoscopes, and guide wires — FDA 21 CFR Class II device braided catheter components require dimensional tolerance ±0.05 mm and braid angle ±2°. Shoe lace braiding (64–96 carriers, 3–12 mm width, flat or round construction, PP or PA yarns) processes 200–500 m/min on modern high-speed machines.