open source fabric loom

[Andrii Zvorygin]

The Jacquard Loom is arguably one of the first automated devices.

Is there an open-source do-it-yourself computer automated loom?

Fabric is very useful, clothing, furniture, sails, bags.

What stages are available in fabric fabrication?

[Sam Putman]

Synthesis: can collect fibers from biological realm (hemp and flax
decortication, sheep shearing, silk pods, cotton boles, the usual
suspects) or make semi synthetically: one I'm particularly interested
in is cellulose carbamate, which can be used for rayon-like fabrics
and is made from cellulose, urea, and carbon dioxide under pressure
(but not unreasonable amounts).

Spinning: can be automated without great difficulty.

Weaving/knitting/crocheting: a good open source loom would be fantastic.

Dying: can be done effectively with a large-format inkjet printer

Cutting: a table gantry can easily do this

Sewing: wide open potential to automate this aspect

Embroidery: more or less nailed already, but not open source

Embedded electronics / flexible electronics: really, a much better
idea than a brittle PCB. Ask Clothbot!

Basically this is a wide open and multibillion dollar market that will
never go away, since people need/want new clothing every few months to
years and this is unlikely to change.

I've been thinking for awhile that the OSE Pattern Language needs an
entire chain dedicated to fabric: they've nailed shelter, food, heat,
power and tools, but clothing is currently absent. I figure this is
because Marcin knows that with the right tools and power and crops you
can make clothing without a lot of difficulty, but it's a big enough
part of the picture as to reward a robust open source toolchain.

cheers,
-Sam.

[Samuel Rose]

There are some folks here in Michigan working on the automation of
traditional loom equipment (automating the shuttle, pedals, etc)

There's a few plans via
http://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=Building+a+shuttle+loom

--
--
Sam Rose
Forward Foundation
Social Synergy
Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
skype: samuelrose
email: samue...@gmail.com
http://socialsynergyweb.com
http://forwardfound.org
http://socialsynergyweb.org/culturing
http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
http://socialmediaclassroom.com
http://localfoodsystems.org
http://notanemployee.net
http://communitywiki.org
http://wikieducator.org

"The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human
ambition." - Carl Sagan