THE LOOM FOR CREATORS

The Thread Controller 2 (TC2) is a Digital Jacquard loom manufactured by Tronrud Engineering Moss, Dept. Digital Weaving Norway.  The TC2 loom is a tool that assists during the “Innovative or the Creative” phase of the making of the textile and is designed primarily for Sampling, Rapid Prototyping or Product Development purposes. Many of our customer also use the loom for creating one-offs/ special commissions (textile artists, for example) and mass customization. The loom is computer-controlled and manually-operated because it is designed to be operated by the creator/ designer/weaver.

The TC2 allows the user to make a perfect quality sample with the desired fibers, weave structures, warp and weft densities and colours – within hours!  Changes are instant; start & stop as many times as required, without problems. The point is that with a TC2 loom, you get the samples at the latest ‘next day’ and you get them where the decision-makers/ customers are.  One can make a sequence of samples varying for example the scale of the design, weave structures, warp and weft density/colorways etc. With the TC2 loom, it is possible to evaluate the design visually as well as the actual hand or the feel of the fabric.

Watch how the TC2 Technology Works!

What materials can be used to weave on a TC2?  

A wide range of fibres can be used on a TC2, but in general, Digital Weaving Norway cautions against typical floor rug qualities because of heavy/stiff materials and high pick densities. All animal and vegetable fibers will work in the TC2 loom, as long as the yarn is not very short-stapled and/or with few torsions per length unit: The general rule is that if the thread breaks easily when you pull it gently between your hands, it should not be used as a warp material. Linen, cotton, hemp, silk and wool, animal hair such as lama, alpaca and camel hair will work excellently and also, viscose and synthetics.  DWN has customers working with materials such as fishing line, surgical steel wire, copper wire, electrical cords with different coatings, polyurethane/ lycra elastics, polypropylene ropes, paper yarn etc. 

How to make a warp for the TC2?

There are two ways: first is the Handweavers’ way, which is with the rotating warping mill and the second, is to send the beam to a factory where they can use a warping machine to transfer the warp. 

Software Requirements:

Designs for the TC2 can be made on the following software platforms:

• Photoshop (or other image processing programs) plus the Loom Controller (the loom driver)

• All industrial Jacquard programs in the market able to save their card files in one of the following formats: JPG, TIFF, BMP and WIF.

The Controller software also runs under Linux and MAC. The Loom Driver software is included in the package, but no computer or design programs such as Photoshop.

Commercials:

The cost of the loom depends on the size and the number of modules that the customer chooses. The loom comes in three sizes: 2-Wide, 3-Wide and 4-Wide, allowing for weaving widths of 28″, 43″ and 56″ respectively. Once the customer decides on the loom frame size, the next step is to choose the number of modules, which is determined by the weaving widths and fabric densities. For price-related inquiries or more information on the loom, write to dwn@tronrudmoss.no.

Our standard price list is prepared in the currencies USD and EUR. The price of the three different loom sizes (2-Wide, 3-Wide, 4-Wide) includes the price of 2 modules, 1 warp beam as well as the vacuum pump. To provide a general idea of the commercials, the starting price of the 2-Wide loom with 2 Modules and 1 Warp Beam is EUR 36 000, the 3-Wide loom with 2 Modules and 1 Warp Beam is EUR 38 000 and the 4-Wide loom with 2 Modules and 1 Warp Beam is EUR 40 000 (All quoted prices are Ex Works).