singer_knit_machine
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singer_knit_machine [2020-01-02 10:05] – cicelyp | singer_knit_machine [2020-04-10 15:27] (current) – cicelyp | ||
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The knitting machine is a Singer Magic Memory KE-1200. Do not be put off by the weird pink colour... this machine is fun and a bit complicated! | The knitting machine is a Singer Magic Memory KE-1200. Do not be put off by the weird pink colour... this machine is fun and a bit complicated! | ||
- | It has a standard needle bed with 200 needles. | + | Theoretically you can programme |
- | The machine | + | You can still use the machine as you would a regular manual knitting machine. It has a standard needle bed with 200 needles. |
==== If you want to try out the machine ==== | ==== If you want to try out the machine ==== | ||
- | The following yarn/ | + | There should |
- | * Red yarn (probably DK weight, from West Yorkshire Spinners '100% Wensleydale Gems' | + | When getting set up, it is important |
- | * Off-white (not fluffy) | + | |
- | * White brushed thermal (slightly fluffy) | + | |
- | * Self-striping rainbow yarn (this is West Yorkshire Spinners 4-ply): Cast on successfully with tension dial on 5, but became a bit tight 12 rows later, so changed up to 8, which was fine. Yarn feed dial was set to 5 the whole time. This produces | + | |
- | * Purple and acid yellow cottons (probably DK weight, Katia Panama brand): Set tension dial to max and yarn feed dial to 3. This produces a gauge of 26 stitches and 30 rows over 10cm. Is prone to not fully completing the knit on a couple of needles at either side of the work on the first few rows, so you may need to manually check and rectify. This is probably because | + | |
- | ==== Further debugging ==== | + | * West Yorkshire Spinners 100% Wensleydale Gems: Set tension dial to max (above 10) and yarn feed dial to 3. This produced a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rows over 10cm. |
+ | * West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4-ply: Cast on successfully with tension dial on 5, but became a bit tight 12 rows later, so changed up to 8, which was fine. Yarn feed dial was set to 5 the whole time. This produced a gauge of about 28 stitches and 37 rows over 10cm. | ||
+ | * Katia Panama cotton: Set tension dial to max and yarn feed dial to 3. This produced a gauge of 26 stitches and 30 rows over 10cm. Is prone to not fully completing the knit on a couple of needles at either side of the work on the first few rows, so you may need to manually check and rectify. This is probably because the tension is still a bit too high even on the lowest setting. | ||
- | There are still errors in needle selection occurring when using either punched card or selection buttons. When moving pins by hand on the bed, errors do not occur (i.e. it's not the carriage at fault). The solenoids engage correctly so it's not likely to be them either. Most likely is the the 12 plates that run along the back of the needle bed (that push pins forward via a raised tab) are sticking together when they lift up and push the pins forward. Some lubricant has been applied to see if this will help prevent the sticking. Failing that it might be a question of disassembling this part of the machine and cleaning it. | + | It also comes with an additional carriage for doing lace, but this has not been tried yet. |
- | ==== Future hacking | + | ==== The problem with the punched card mechanism |
- | + | ||
- | It would be nice to be rid of the 12 stitch repeat constraint and instead have every needle individually controllable. This would require hacking, perhaps (servos, cams?). Ideas are welcome. It is possible to buy electronic knitting machines that bypass this constraint and are known to be hackable, but these are 100s of £££ (although if people fancied a pledge...). | + | |
+ | Needle selection errors occur when using either punched card or selection buttons. When moving pins by hand on the bed, errors do not occur (i.e. it's not the carriage at fault). The solenoids engage correctly so it's not likely to be them either. The mis-selection seems to be caused by the 12 plates that run along the back of the needle bed (that push pins forward via a raised tab) - these stick together when they lift up and therefore push pins forward when they are not supposed to. The machine has been disassembled, | ||
+ | ==== Future hacking ==== | ||
+ | It would be nice to be rid of the 12 stitch repeat constraint, and the fault needle selection mechanism, and instead have every needle individually controllable. This would require hacking, perhaps (servos, cams?). It is possible to buy electronic knitting machines that bypass this constraint and are known to be hackable, but these are 100s of £££. |
singer_knit_machine.1577959552.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020-01-02 10:05 by cicelyp