CNC fabric cutters are used in a variety of fields where textile materials are processed. In most cases, CNC conveyor pulls the fabric from the roll, which is placed on a free rotating roller and a blade head cuts the fabric with programmed patterns. This pull force is defined only by the friction or the vacuum of the fabric at the conveyor surface. Thus, if the fabric is at the beginning of the conveyor, the pull force is very low. Likewise, if it is at the end, the pull force is much higher. Also the linear speed of the conveyor is converted to rotational force (moment) at the unwinding roll. Depending on the roll diameter, this force varies. So, the fabric tension cannot be kept constant. This results in wrinkles especially during fast accelerations and decelerations that is common in CNC operations. The wrinkles in fabric layer lead to uncut material or broken CNC blades. A motorized feeder with precise speed and tension control in synchronisation with the conveyor motion is a must for such a process.

In addition, operation cycle time of the CNC cutters is highly critical. It would be very beneficial to be able to cut two rolls with different diameters and widths, side by side at the same time.

BTU-TECH designed a special “Roll Feeder” which is capable of unwinding two individual rolls of different diame- ters and widths, at the same time with programmable tension control and synchronised motion with CNC cutter high speed operation.