34-Inch 26G 102-Feeder Single Jersey Circular Knitting Machine

A 102-feeder line needs traceable yarn feeding

This page is for a precise single-jersey setup: 34-inch cylinder, 26G and 102 feeders, with a stored 20 RPM reference. It sits inside the broader single-jersey family but deserves its own purchasing logic. The main issue is not whether the machine can knit ordinary jersey; it is whether 102 yarn feeds remain balanced enough to hold a smooth face, weight and width over a production roll.

The archived application points to T-shirts, underwear, activewear and lightweight apparel. Give the supplier the yarn count/composition, target greige and finished weight, width, stitch length, elastane plan and finishing route. A sample made with a convenient yarn cannot approve a fine-gauge buyer program.

Map every feeder before chasing barre

Horizontal bands may come from yarn-lot variation, package condition, feeder tension or stitch differences. Number the feeder positions and record yarn packages/lots. When a band repeats with a known feeder relationship, operators can inspect the relevant path instead of changing global settings.

Needle and sinker condition, lubrication and take-down also affect the face. A vertical line fixed at one circumference position points to a different route than broad barre. The trial log should distinguish these patterns.

34/26/102 production record

A trial designed to reveal feeder drift

Load production yarn and record the package/feeder map. Run long enough to include normal doffing, stops and stable temperature. Take samples from the beginning, middle and end; inspect under consistent light for barre, needle lines, holes, oil marks and repeating bands. Measure weight, width and skew.

Finish part of the same roll. Recheck width, shrinkage, hand and any elastane recovery. If the fabric will be dyed a solid shade, use that route in the approval because subtle feeder differences can become more visible after dyeing.

Keep adjustments local and recorded

When a defect appears, mark its direction and repeat interval. Check the matching feeder, yarn or needle position before making machine-wide changes. Store the accepted stitch, take-down, speed and lubrication conditions with the yarn lot and feeder map.

Clean the knitting zone and positive feeders according to the supplied procedure. Isolate the machine before changing needles or entering the yarn/knitting path. After maintenance, confirm the face on a short labelled sample before releasing the roll.

Make the 102-feed setup practical for operators

Feeder numbers should be visible from the normal working position and match the yarn map used in the production file. Define how packages are replaced, how knots or splices are recorded and which sample is inspected after a broken yarn or feeder stop. This reduces the temptation to release a roll before a recurring band has been checked.

Ask for the included positive feeders, stop motions, lubrication equipment, tools and first spare set. During commissioning, have operators locate a deliberately marked feeder and trace its path to the fabric. That simple exercise shows whether the numbering and training record will support real defect diagnosis.