Needle Selection and Knit-Tuck-Miss Control
topic
Electronic flat knitting machine needle selection systems use individual piezoelectric actuators or electromagnetic selectors to independently activate each needle for knit, tuck, or miss on each carriage pass according to pattern data downloaded from design software, enabling unlimited stitch pattern complexity within the machine gauge and needle count constraints at pattern repeat lengths limited only by machine control memory capacity.
Role
Enables the complete stitch pattern design flexibility of modern flat knitting by providing independent control of every needle action on every course through electronic selection that replaced mechanical pattern drum systems, allowing rapid design changeover from design software download without physical machine modification and enabling the complex intarsia, jacquard, and structure combination patterns of contemporary knitwear design.