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Ultra-gentle and effective threading – the OPTIFIL® thread eye makes it possible
Special thread eye section
With regard to ISO-norm compatibility, a heald with an OPTIFIL thread eye is essentially little different from other healds. The actual difference between OPTIFIL healds and conventional products lies in the thread eye section. The fact that the thread eye is parallel to the warp threads means that neighbouring threads lie on a surface, and are not guided over an edge. The pressure exerted by the neighbouring threads on the heald is lower, making it less inclined to twist and jam the thread inside the eye. Friction on the thread is thus reduced, and the heald and the reed also remain cleaner. For the same reason the warp thread cuts into the heald material a great deal less, sharply increasing heald service life. The common problem of sawtooth grooves thus occurs far later on.
Perhaps the most decisive part of the OPTIFIL heald shape is the area above and below the thread eye, which is intentionally ramp-like in design. This means that neighbouring threads are gently and precisely guided by the narrow part of the heald to its widest part, the thread-eye section, and back again. During shed changes there are no corners in the path of the warp yarn at all, only gentle transitions. Here, OPTIFIL stands out clearly from any imitations.
OPTIFIL® successes
The enormous benefits in practice are made clear by the following three examples:
| Machine | Rapier weaving machine, 190 cm, 450 rpm |
| Details | Denim 12 ounces |
| Benefits | Warp downtime with OPTIFIL reduced from 5.3 to 4.5/100,000. Second quality reduced from 4% to 2.2%. |
| Machine | Air-jet weaving machine, 190 cm, 750 rpm |
| Details | Warp yarn BW and BW/PE to Ne 40 (ca. 15 tex) |
| Benefit | 20% less warp downtime with OPTIFIL. |
| Machine | Waterjet weaving machine, 150 cm, 1,000 rpm |
| Details | Warp yarn PE 50/18 den semi dull |
| Benefit | With OPTIFIL, heald service life increased from 30,000 m warp to 75,000 m. (evaluation criterion: less than one warp breakage in 8 hours.) |
Competitors
Clear differences in comparison with competitors
Even in the schematic comparison of both thread eyes shown above, experts will notice the fundamental differences between the competition and the OPTIFIL solution. This comparison makes it clear that only with OPTIFIL healds is it possible to gain higher row density. The risk of increased machine downtime - often the result of unfavourably guided neighbouring threads - is dispensed with entirely.