ADVANCES IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS - ECODESIGN AND ANALYSIS
Karl Mayer technology
The Karl Mayer machine uses four yarn systems - one to produce the ground fabric, one to insert the warp yarns, one for the weft yarns and the fourth for the yarns disposed under a preset angle. The inclined yarns are fed with two guide bars that have a rotational movement of 1 pitch every row. The guides are shogged in only one direction, passing from one bar to the other, changing the yarn direction within the fabric structure, as illustrated in Fig. 11.
Fig. 11. The modified angle when changing direction in a Karl Mayer multiaxial fabric |
The advantages of the Karl Mayer system are: the accuracy of the inclined yarns position, the fact that the needles do not destroy these yarns and the high productivity. Still, the fabrics are less compact affecting the fabric mechanical behaviour.