Data preparation for electronic cam based needle bar shifting mechanism of carpet tufting machine

A new developed tufting machine adopt electronic cam to replace traditional transverse shifting mechanism. To facility the control operation of electronic cam for carpet tufting machine, this study proposed a pattern data prepare system. According to the actual control of electronic cam based needle bar transverse shifting, constructed the software frame structure, using visual basic develop the cam data preparation system. The software system realizes the functions of gathering point data, conversion of data, download and management of cam data etc. The developed data preparation system was tested in a sample carpet tufting machine. Test result shows that the system can fulfill the cam pattern design, conversion, download and file management, and the developed system greatly reduce the complex operations of electronic cam drive transverse shifting system on carpet tufting machine.