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THE LOOM FOR CREATORS





TC2 Loom

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).    




TC2 loom: An Introduction

Which is the TC2 for you?

When configuring your TC2, think about two aspects – the fabric widths that you normally create and the range of fabric densities that you work with.

Step one is to choose a loom frame. For upto 28″ weaving width, choose a 2-Wide loom. For upto 43″ weaving width, choose a 3-Wide loom. For upto 56″ weaving width, choose a 4-Wide loom.

Next comes, deciding the number of modules. Each module enables a fabric density of 15 ends per inch or 6 ends per cm. Depending on the range of densities that you play with, choose the number of modules. Divide the range of densities by 15 to arrive at the number of modules.

For example, for weaving a 28-inch/71-cm sample with 90 epi/36 ends per cm, you will choose a 2-Wide loom (enabling 28″) with 12 modules (enabling 15×6=90 epi)


TC2 Technology

Idea

Scan/Create a design on the Computer

Edit

Edit the image and assign weave structures in a design program (Photoshop or any industrial Jacquard program)

Connect

Click to connect TC2 software to the loom

Weave

Start Weaving!


Technical Specifications

Width and density of the fabric is controlled through modular configuration

Modular configuration to suit customer needs - 2 to 48 modules

Each module controls 220 heddles and gives 15 epi on a 14.5” fabric

Each heddle is individually controlled pneumatically

Manual weft insertion ensures total creative freedom and flexibility

Each new design can be woven on a different warp density and with new weave structures

Instant changes in designs, weave structures, warp densities, take up and weft material

Automatic warp advancing through sensors and software-operated electro motors

Warp tension is monitored and adjusted by a sensor input

Faster/easier to connect warps to warp beam and fabric beam

Sheds open though electricity and vacuum

The loom has an operating speed of around 25-35 ppm

A wireless interface with the computer means you can control the loom remotely

The loom makes the warp simulate any threading on shafts or in a Jacquard, so re-threading is not necessary