Computer based systems and methods for designing and manufacturing consumer products, including knit footwear uppers, and the like. The system provides digital controls for the customization of knitted components, including complex multi-structured knitted components. The system simulates deformations of knit structures and allows the user to control and visualize compensations in the structure(s) of the knitted component to better match between an intended knit design and the actual physical knitted component outcome. They system may manufacture/fabricate a knitted component based on the predicted/estimated deformation behavior of the knit.

Computer based systems and methods for designing and manufacturing consumer products, including knit footwear uppers, and the like. The system provides digital controls for the customization of knitted components, including complex multi-structured knitted components. The system simulates deformations of knit structures and allows the user to control and visualize compensations in the structure(s) of the knitted component to better match between an intended knit design and the actual physical knitted component outcome. The system may manufacture/fabricate a knitted component based on the predicted/estimated deformation behavior of the knit.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for knitting a fabric using a knitting machine. The knitting machine is arranged to knit with a plurality of yarns using a corresponding plurality of knitting needles, each knitting needle being arranged during knitting of a stitch to connect with and knit with one of the plurality of yarns. The method controllably varies the stitch length for each stitch in dependence on the pattern to be knitted.

This invention discloses a computer-implemented method for determining production values for producing a custom-tailored knitted garment for a limb of a person. A 3D scan device acquires a three-dimensional data of a limb. A height value describing the dimension of a knitting row in the lengthwise direction of the limb and a total length value for at least one lengthwise section of the garment are provided, and the number of knitting rows for one section of the garment is determined by dividing the total length value by the height value. A circumference information describing the circumference of the limb is derived by evaluating the three-dimensional dataset. A circumference value for each n-th knitting row or each knitting row except every n-th knitting row is determined from the circumference information. The circumference value is used for determining production values for the knitted garment.

A heading machine includes a base unit (1), a delivery unit (2) arranged on the base unit, two holding units (3) arranged on the base unit, a drive unit (4) arranged on the base unit, a cutting unit (5) arranged on the delivery unit, a computer control unit (6) arranged on the base unit, and a power supply (7) electrically coupled to the drive unit, the cutting unit and the computer control unit to provide an electric power. Thus, the computer control unit adjusts the length of the lace (8), so that the tension of the lace is distributed evenly, and the lace that has been cut will have a constant length. In addition, the cut length of the lace is adjusted without needing manual measurement and adjustment.

Apparel patterns may be generated as a function of custom apparel information provided by a user, such as one or more measurements, colors, etc., such that the user can have apparel custom-knitted to their particular size and shape without having to acquiesce the high expense and long wait times typically associated with custom-fit clothing. After a custom apparel pattern is generated, a custom-knitted article can be manufactured based on the pattern by transmitting appropriate information to a knitting machine. Data produced while generating custom apparel patterns can be stored and used to optimize and improve the manufacturing of customized knitwear for subsequent users. Further, such data can be shared with third parties such that manufacturers or others can utilize one or more beneficial aspects of the present disclosure without having to implement all of the functionality that would otherwise be required to obtain such benefits.

A heading machine includes a base unit (1), a delivery unit (2) arranged on the base unit, two holding units (3) arranged on the base unit, a drive unit (4) arranged on the base unit, a cutting unit (5) arranged on the delivery unit, a computer control unit (6) arranged on the base unit, and a power supply (7) electrically coupled to the drive unit, the cutting unit and the computer control unit to provide an electric power. Thus, the computer control unit adjusts the length of the lace (8), so that the tension of the lace is distributed evenly, and the lace that has been cut will have a constant length. In addition, the cut length of the lace is adjusted without needing manual measurement and adjustment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and apparatus for customizing knitted products. A specific embodiment of the method includes: receiving knitting program instructions of basic products uploaded regularly by factories to a cloud-based customization platform; generating a design file and an order of a new product in response to a customer designing the new product on the cloud-based customization platform and placing the order; replacing the design file of the corresponding basic product with the design file of the new product to generate the knitting program for making the new product, and generating a working file executable by a knitting machine; sending the order and the working file to an intelligent factory system or manufacturing execution system; and producing the new product by using the knitting machine according to the working file.

Methods for fabrication of articles, in particular knitted articles, using computer-controlled machines. A 3D model of the article is characterized by a 3D polygonal mesh defining a surface of the 3D model. A streamline is drawn on the 3D model, and used to define a set of isolines over the surface described by the 3D polygonal mesh. The isolines are quantized into equidistant points along their respective lengths and a cut line traversing each of the isolines is defined. Courses are defined by connecting quantization points of the isolines based on knitting rules to produce a 2D knitting map containing apexes. Apex attraction may be performed on a first portion of the 2D knitting map by decreasing a spatial distance between respective ones of the apexes. The 2D knitting map is subsequently converted to knitting instructions for a computer-controlled knitting machine.

Methods for fabrication of articles, in particular knitted articles, using computer-controlled machines. A 3D model of the article is characterized by a 3D polygonal mesh defining a surface of the 3D model. A streamline is drawn on the 3D model, and used to define a set of isolines over the surface described by the 3D polygonal mesh. The isolines are quantized into equidistant points along their respective lengths and a cut line traversing each of the isolines is defined. Courses are defined by connecting quantization points of the isolines based on knitting rules to produce a 2D knitting map containing apexes. Apex attraction may be performed on a first portion of the 2D knitting map by decreasing a spatial distance between respective ones of the apexes. The 2D knitting map is subsequently converted to knitting instructions for a computer-controlled knitting machine.