Technology in Apparel
Manufacturing
by
Prof. Biswaranjan Ghosh
SVPISTM, Coimbatore
APPAREL MANUFACTURING
TECHNOLOGY
Contents:
• Pattern Making & Grading
• Cutting: Lay Planning, Spreading, Marking
• Sewing:
• Post Sewing Operation / process
• Value added Processes
• Best Management Practices
Pattern Making
• To facilitate mass production of garments of
standard sizes, pattern making is necessary
• First block pattern and base patterns are
developed in the process of proto and fit sample
development
• Using base pattern various size pattern are made
through the process of grading to develop size set
samples
• Today Computer Aided Design ( CAD)
technology extensively used for Pattern Making
and Grading.
Pattern Making
The fashion/ garment
industry uses computer-
aided design (CAD) systems
to prepare the patterns.
Pattern-making the
process of transforming
the design into the
appropriate pieces needed
to produce an apparel item
It also facilitate grading.
grading the technical
process of increasing or
decreasing the sizes of a
pattern to correspond to a
garment size
Marker Making:
Pattern Making
CAD systems store style information such as:
• Flat sketch
• Size spec
• Trim requirements
• Size grade charts
5
• The system automatically
produce pattern shapes in
all the pre-specified sizes
6
Grading
• Marker – arrangement of all
pattern parts for max. fabric
utilization
• The system indicates the
percentage of waste
• Automatic matching of stripes
and plaids is common to most
systems
7
Marker Making
Spreading- Methods
Spreading
Machine
Assisted
Spreading
Semi-
Automatic
Fully
Automatic
Manual
Spreading
Spreading related Equipment
• Tables
- Normal table
- Vacuum table
- Conveyor table
- Pinned table
• Fabric Loaders
• Fabric weights/Clamps/Pins
Pinned
Table
Vacuum
Table
Fabric
clamps
Fabric
Weights
Fabric Roll
Loader
Spreading Machines
Fully Automatic Spreading Machines
• Automatic loading/unloading device
for fabric rolls
• Automatic roll turning arrangement
for face to back lay
• Automatic leveling device for fabric
edge alignment.
• Automatic cutting device at the end of
a run
• Automatic tensioning device to
control fabric tension
• Automatic lay height sensing elevator
• Programmable lay length, ply height
• Spreading seeds up to 140 m/min
Feature
s:
Cutting
Cutting
Manual
Scissors
Machine
Portable cutting
knives
Straight
knife
Round
knife
Stationary
cutters
Band
knife
Die
cutting
Servo
cutting
Plasma
cutting
Water jet
cutting
Laser
cutting
Position
markers
Notchers
Drills and
thread
markers
Semi-Automatic Cutting Equipment
Advantages
• Comparatively cheap
• Production speed is very good
• Rough work can be easily done by
hands
Disadvantages
• Faulty knife could damage fabric layer
• Knife required to change
• Weight of the motor creates knife
deflection which may be creates faulty
pieces
Straight knife Round knife Band knife Notcher machine
Die Cutting
Dies are pre – shaped metal outlines. Most accurate Die cutting operation involves
Placement of fabric, positioning the die on the fabric ,engaging the machine to press
the die into the fabric .Useful for small precision parts.
Fully-Automatic Cutting Equipment
Advantages
• Cutting defects are less
• Less labor cost
• Suitable for very large scale
of production
• No need of marker paper
Disadvantages
• Very expensive machines
• Very high on maintenance
• Not suitable for cutting multi
level fabric (water-jet, laser)
• Not suitable for synthetic
fabric(laser cutting)
Computerized
cutting machine
Laser cutting machine Water-jet fabric cutting
• Single/multi needle industrial lockstitch sewing machine with or without trimmer
• Blind stitch machine/Chain stitching machine.
• Flat lock machine (cylinder bed and flat bed)
• Over lock machine (3 threads/4 threads and 5 and 6 threads)
• Single/double needle chain stitch machine
• Zigzag flat bed sewing machine.
• Button stitch sewing machine.
• Button hole sewing machine
• Feed of Arm sewing machine
• Label/elastic inserting machine
• Bar tacking machine.
• Hemstitch machine.
• Smocking machine / Automatic multi needle shirring machine
• Collar and cuff turning and blocking machine and pressing machine
• Shoulder pad-attaching machine
Different sewing Machines’ name
Lock stitch M/c: single and double
Sewing machines
Computer controlled, Direct-Drive, High-Speed, 1
Needle, Lockstitch, Zigzag Stitching Machine with
Automatic thread trimmer.
Automatic Pocket Welting
Machine
Feed-of arm- cover stitch m/c
2- needle feed-of arm 4-needle feed-of arm
Sewing Machine
Over lock machine Flat lock machine
Smocking Sewing Machine with Shirring
This machine adopt vertical movement of looper, suitable for basic sewing and
decoration of high-grade garment for women’s and children’s suit. Up to 32-needles
Flatbed, multi needle, double chain stitch machine.
These machines are multi-purpose machines for attaching elastic, attaching waistband, sewing
the front of shirts, attaching line tapes, smocking and shirring
which are ideal for underwear, sportswear, lady's clothes, interior decorated goods (curtains,
table-clothes etc.).
Collar Turning and blocking machine
Lockstitch Automated Pocket Welting machine with
corner cutting device,
10 different patterns can be stored as stitch length, sewing speed,
Feeding- some example
Special attachments- Folders and
guides
Yoke attaching Pocket heming
Folders and guides
Cuff heming Cuff attaching
Folders and guides
Centre placket Centre Placket
Folder and guide
Pleat
folder Edge stitch guide
Folder and guide
Sleeve attach Sleeve attach- 2nd operation
Folder and guide
Sleeve placket folder Lap seam folder
Sewing through Profile----
Automatic Feeding Button Sewing
Machine
Button Holders
Pneumatic Multi-head button-attaching Machine
For this machine, the head number can be: 1, 2, 3, 12. The machine series fit for all
kinds of eyelet, snap button, jeans button, snap ring button, decoration button, etc.
Button hole sewing machine
This is a buttonhole foot for making an automatic buttonhole. As you can see, it is much
different than a traditional sewing machine foot. This foot works with a sensor on your
sewing machine so that it makes the exact size buttonhole for the button you are using.
The button is placed in the slot at the back- not shown in fig
Sequins attaching m/c
• This machine is used to attach the sequin on the fabric. There is a wheel on which a roll of
continuous sequin is wound. The fabric is put on under the foot and sequin lace is placed on
the fabric with sewing. This is time saving machine and durability of the sequin is also
increased.
Pressing Technology
• Steam iron table
• Vacuum is useful in two key ways. One, the most effective pressing is done by pulling the
steam through the layers. Second, blowing up (via a readily accessible switch) reduces seam
imprinting by the iron. This is particularly noticeable if you’re pressing several layers, the iron
maps allowances underneath. This table is reported to be good for napped fabrics like
corduroy and velvets because blowing up while pressing doesn’t crush the nap.
Border Making m/c
• This machine is used to make different types of borders design. which can be select from
pattern memory . Large embroideries can be machine produced based on design developed
using AUTOCAD or other design software.
• The software allows the designer to shrink , enlarge, rotate etc….
Computerized Embroidery m/c- single head and
multi head
• Computer connectivity using USB port for transferring patterns from the Internet
is possible
Tajima 6 head embroidery machine
Each Toyota Expert ESP 9100 is capable of 1,000 stitches per minute, the machines are
fully networked together and driven by Wilcom software Used to embroider t-shirts,
polo shirts, fleeces, coats, caps and hats, overalls, bags, sports kit, wear and most etc.
47
Electronic body scanning
Advanced CAD for e-Commerce
• A new trend in customizing
clothing
• After scanned, customers
could used the measurement
information for internet
shopping e.g. ez-size
• The perfect fit” -The Virtual
Smart 3D Body Scanner
calculates your customer's
measurements and
characteristics in your retail
stores, in less than 15 seconds.
This information is directly
integrated into Lectra's FitNet
mass customization solution
with the end result: a perfect-
fitting garment
1 Body Scanner
Universal
Backend
Database
3 Database of partipating stores
2.1 Portal terminal
2.2 User home desktop
4 Selected apparel of best fit
Store A
Store B
Store C
5 Shopping centre
Generates list from database
Generates list from database
Selected item shipped
Collection of item
Guess,
Levis,
Oakley,
etc
Suppliers7
customer6

Fin technology in apparel manufacturing

  • 1.
    Technology in Apparel Manufacturing by Prof.Biswaranjan Ghosh SVPISTM, Coimbatore
  • 2.
    APPAREL MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY Contents: • PatternMaking & Grading • Cutting: Lay Planning, Spreading, Marking • Sewing: • Post Sewing Operation / process • Value added Processes • Best Management Practices
  • 3.
    Pattern Making • Tofacilitate mass production of garments of standard sizes, pattern making is necessary • First block pattern and base patterns are developed in the process of proto and fit sample development • Using base pattern various size pattern are made through the process of grading to develop size set samples • Today Computer Aided Design ( CAD) technology extensively used for Pattern Making and Grading.
  • 4.
    Pattern Making The fashion/garment industry uses computer- aided design (CAD) systems to prepare the patterns. Pattern-making the process of transforming the design into the appropriate pieces needed to produce an apparel item It also facilitate grading. grading the technical process of increasing or decreasing the sizes of a pattern to correspond to a garment size Marker Making:
  • 5.
    Pattern Making CAD systemsstore style information such as: • Flat sketch • Size spec • Trim requirements • Size grade charts 5
  • 6.
    • The systemautomatically produce pattern shapes in all the pre-specified sizes 6 Grading
  • 7.
    • Marker –arrangement of all pattern parts for max. fabric utilization • The system indicates the percentage of waste • Automatic matching of stripes and plaids is common to most systems 7 Marker Making
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Spreading related Equipment •Tables - Normal table - Vacuum table - Conveyor table - Pinned table • Fabric Loaders • Fabric weights/Clamps/Pins Pinned Table Vacuum Table Fabric clamps Fabric Weights Fabric Roll Loader
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Fully Automatic SpreadingMachines • Automatic loading/unloading device for fabric rolls • Automatic roll turning arrangement for face to back lay • Automatic leveling device for fabric edge alignment. • Automatic cutting device at the end of a run • Automatic tensioning device to control fabric tension • Automatic lay height sensing elevator • Programmable lay length, ply height • Spreading seeds up to 140 m/min Feature s:
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Semi-Automatic Cutting Equipment Advantages •Comparatively cheap • Production speed is very good • Rough work can be easily done by hands Disadvantages • Faulty knife could damage fabric layer • Knife required to change • Weight of the motor creates knife deflection which may be creates faulty pieces Straight knife Round knife Band knife Notcher machine
  • 14.
    Die Cutting Dies arepre – shaped metal outlines. Most accurate Die cutting operation involves Placement of fabric, positioning the die on the fabric ,engaging the machine to press the die into the fabric .Useful for small precision parts.
  • 15.
    Fully-Automatic Cutting Equipment Advantages •Cutting defects are less • Less labor cost • Suitable for very large scale of production • No need of marker paper Disadvantages • Very expensive machines • Very high on maintenance • Not suitable for cutting multi level fabric (water-jet, laser) • Not suitable for synthetic fabric(laser cutting) Computerized cutting machine Laser cutting machine Water-jet fabric cutting
  • 16.
    • Single/multi needleindustrial lockstitch sewing machine with or without trimmer • Blind stitch machine/Chain stitching machine. • Flat lock machine (cylinder bed and flat bed) • Over lock machine (3 threads/4 threads and 5 and 6 threads) • Single/double needle chain stitch machine • Zigzag flat bed sewing machine. • Button stitch sewing machine. • Button hole sewing machine • Feed of Arm sewing machine • Label/elastic inserting machine • Bar tacking machine. • Hemstitch machine. • Smocking machine / Automatic multi needle shirring machine • Collar and cuff turning and blocking machine and pressing machine • Shoulder pad-attaching machine Different sewing Machines’ name
  • 18.
    Lock stitch M/c:single and double
  • 19.
    Sewing machines Computer controlled,Direct-Drive, High-Speed, 1 Needle, Lockstitch, Zigzag Stitching Machine with Automatic thread trimmer. Automatic Pocket Welting Machine
  • 20.
    Feed-of arm- coverstitch m/c 2- needle feed-of arm 4-needle feed-of arm
  • 21.
    Sewing Machine Over lockmachine Flat lock machine
  • 22.
    Smocking Sewing Machinewith Shirring This machine adopt vertical movement of looper, suitable for basic sewing and decoration of high-grade garment for women’s and children’s suit. Up to 32-needles
  • 23.
    Flatbed, multi needle,double chain stitch machine. These machines are multi-purpose machines for attaching elastic, attaching waistband, sewing the front of shirts, attaching line tapes, smocking and shirring which are ideal for underwear, sportswear, lady's clothes, interior decorated goods (curtains, table-clothes etc.).
  • 24.
    Collar Turning andblocking machine
  • 25.
    Lockstitch Automated PocketWelting machine with corner cutting device, 10 different patterns can be stored as stitch length, sewing speed,
  • 26.
  • 28.
    Special attachments- Foldersand guides Yoke attaching Pocket heming
  • 29.
    Folders and guides Cuffheming Cuff attaching
  • 30.
    Folders and guides Centreplacket Centre Placket
  • 31.
  • 32.
    Folder and guide Sleeveattach Sleeve attach- 2nd operation
  • 33.
    Folder and guide Sleeveplacket folder Lap seam folder
  • 34.
  • 36.
  • 37.
  • 38.
    Pneumatic Multi-head button-attachingMachine For this machine, the head number can be: 1, 2, 3, 12. The machine series fit for all kinds of eyelet, snap button, jeans button, snap ring button, decoration button, etc.
  • 39.
  • 40.
    This is abuttonhole foot for making an automatic buttonhole. As you can see, it is much different than a traditional sewing machine foot. This foot works with a sensor on your sewing machine so that it makes the exact size buttonhole for the button you are using. The button is placed in the slot at the back- not shown in fig
  • 41.
    Sequins attaching m/c •This machine is used to attach the sequin on the fabric. There is a wheel on which a roll of continuous sequin is wound. The fabric is put on under the foot and sequin lace is placed on the fabric with sewing. This is time saving machine and durability of the sequin is also increased.
  • 42.
    Pressing Technology • Steamiron table • Vacuum is useful in two key ways. One, the most effective pressing is done by pulling the steam through the layers. Second, blowing up (via a readily accessible switch) reduces seam imprinting by the iron. This is particularly noticeable if you’re pressing several layers, the iron maps allowances underneath. This table is reported to be good for napped fabrics like corduroy and velvets because blowing up while pressing doesn’t crush the nap.
  • 43.
    Border Making m/c •This machine is used to make different types of borders design. which can be select from pattern memory . Large embroideries can be machine produced based on design developed using AUTOCAD or other design software. • The software allows the designer to shrink , enlarge, rotate etc….
  • 44.
    Computerized Embroidery m/c-single head and multi head • Computer connectivity using USB port for transferring patterns from the Internet is possible
  • 45.
    Tajima 6 headembroidery machine Each Toyota Expert ESP 9100 is capable of 1,000 stitches per minute, the machines are fully networked together and driven by Wilcom software Used to embroider t-shirts, polo shirts, fleeces, coats, caps and hats, overalls, bags, sports kit, wear and most etc.
  • 46.
    47 Electronic body scanning AdvancedCAD for e-Commerce • A new trend in customizing clothing • After scanned, customers could used the measurement information for internet shopping e.g. ez-size • The perfect fit” -The Virtual Smart 3D Body Scanner calculates your customer's measurements and characteristics in your retail stores, in less than 15 seconds. This information is directly integrated into Lectra's FitNet mass customization solution with the end result: a perfect- fitting garment
  • 47.
    1 Body Scanner Universal Backend Database 3Database of partipating stores 2.1 Portal terminal 2.2 User home desktop 4 Selected apparel of best fit Store A Store B Store C 5 Shopping centre Generates list from database Generates list from database Selected item shipped Collection of item Guess, Levis, Oakley, etc Suppliers7 customer6