[TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator

3D Scanning and Simulation Technology Aids in Swimsuit Design

By Karen Davis, [TC]²

The U.S. Olympic swimming trials have resulted in several swim records being shattered this summer.  Product development using 3D body scanned humans and computational fluid dynamics simulation is being considered a key element in this success. 

Speedo’s Aqualab R&D team has developed the LZR RACER swimsuit, incorporating LZR Pulse®, an ultra-lightweight, low drag, water repellant, fast-drying fabric, with panels of an ultra-powerful polyurethane membrane bonded onto the woven material to help reduce drag in specific locations on the body.

[TC]²’s 3D body scanning technology was used to scan over 400 athletes at the 2006 spring Olympic trials in the U.S. and UK as the initial step for the research project.  From scan data that was acquired, custom 3D male and female human models were created by [TC]² from multiple scan data sets to be able to represent the swimmers in the guide position, which were subsequently used to test fabrics and suit designs in simulations.  Mike King, [TC]² Product Manager for 3D Body Scanning, comments, “using our in-house custom development tools and RainDrop Geomagic software we were able to create these custom models for Speedo in just a matter of a few days.”  Water flume and wind tunnel tests were conducted to simulate a swimmer’s movements, followed by time trials with swimmers wearing the new suit and standard training wear.  Speedo continued the research to reduce drag by adding tensile properties to the material to compress key body areas. 

Body model of swimmer and a U.S. swimmer in the glide position, which is maintained for 15 meters after diving and kicking off after a turn.

Flow simulation of velocity around a swimmer in the glide position wearing the LZR RACER suit.

[TC]² acknowledges ANSYS, Inc., of Canonsburg, PA, as a resource for this article.  ANSYS designs, develops, markets and globally supports engineering simulation solutions used to predict how product designs will behave in manufacturing and real-world environments.

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Curing Inkjet Printed Pigments with Ultraviolet Light

By Kim Anderson, [TC]²

Ultraviolet light (UV) has been used to cure printed inks and various coatings for decades. The curing process is well established in both the flexography and lithography printing methods. UV curing has a number of advantages over conventional thermal methods, including low energy consumption, fast and reliable curing, low environmental pollution and energy and space savings. Unfortunately, there has been limited success in implementing UV curing into the textile printing process. However, recent research shows promise for using UV light to cure inkjet printed pigments on textiles.

Inkjet printing is a process in which droplets of ink are rapidly ejected from small orifices at relatively high speeds. Inkjet printing on fabric has a number of advantages, including the ability to produce photo-quality images, an unlimited number of colors, an unlimited length-wise repeat size and printed patterns that can be engineered to repeat across sewn seams. In addition, print designs are sent directly from the computer to the printing machine, eliminating the need to make or store screens for printing.

Both dyes and pigments are utilized to apply color to textiles in the inkjet printing process. The application of dyes is more complex because different dyes are used to apply color to different fibers, auxiliary chemicals are needed and post steaming processing is required to fix the dyes to the fiber. Pigments are an excellent alternative for coloring textiles. Today, about 65% of printing applications utilize pigments. Pigments produce quality prints, are applicable to almost every kind of fiber and fiber blend, have excellent light-fastness, are cheaper than dyes and do not require a steaming process.

Read entire article at techexchange.com...

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Member Profile
WRAP – Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production

By Karen Davis, [TC]²

In response to concerns over reports of unhealthy and unfair working conditions in factories throughout the world, a three-year study was conducted to identify the issues and develop on-the-ground solutions. Out of this study the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production program (WRAP) was launched in January 2000 as an independent, non-profit factory certification program. WRAP has a 12-point code of conduct based on internationally recognized workplace standards and the rule of law. Today, WRAP is the world’s largest social compliance certification program focused on the sewn products industry and is growing at about 20% per year. 

WRAP ensures reliable socially compliant practices with certification and training  programs. The Certification Program certifies individual facilities for compliance with WRAP’s principles and procedures concerning fair pay, workers’ dignity, safe and secure working conditions and environmental impact. Factories that have become WRAP certified have experienced greater productivity, lower turnover, improved communications between management and employees, safer working conditions and improved morale.

WRAP’s training programs teach employees, factory managers and government inspectors about issues related to global supply chains and working relationships. [TC]² and WRAP have partnered at a number of conferences, including this year’s Colombiatex and FESPA, sharing exhibit space and presenting concurrent educational programs.

 [TC]² is an authorized WRAP consultant trained to help factories prepare for the certification process or to provide guidance if the facility is required to take corrective actions to achieve certification. 

WRAP has recently launched a newsletter to keep its readers informed of training program schedules and to present articles highlighting the organization’s initiatives. To review the inaugural issue, click here (pdf).  To subscribe to future newsletters, visit www.wrapapparel.org or contact Yin Yin by email: yyin@wrapapparel.org, or by phone 703-243-0790.

The Industry Services Division of [TC]² provides consulting services in many areas of the industry around the globe. Often beginning with a Plant Assessment and/or a Business Process Analysis, the Industry Services team provides on-site training and development in Lean Practices and Organizational Culture, as well as Industrial Engineering. For further information on these and other valued services, please contact Will Duncan at (919) 653-3505 or via our contact form.

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Speakers Confirmed for
Innovative Textile Printing: Green & Global Symposium

September 17-19, 2008
Sheraton Imperial Hotel, RTP
Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina

[TC]² and AATCC have joined together to present an educational symposium highlighting innovative approaches for textile printing. Confirmed program speakers are: Richard Malakowski, Cranston Print Works; Patty Williams, IT Strategies; Karen McGhee, American Eagle; Stephen Fraser, Spoonflower; Rob Morskate, Osiris Digital Prints; Mary Ankeny, Cotton Incorporated; JeongGook Cho, Yuhan Kimberly; Tom McCall, CloverTex; Marci Kinter, SGIA; Art Allen, Sensient; Fernando Vazquez, Dow Corning; Hitoshi Ujiie, Philadelphia University; Jos Notermans, Stork Digital; Jesse Leskanic, Cheran Digital; Tom Stutts, DataColor; Danielle Locastro, First2Print and Ann Laidlaw, X-Rite.

In addition to participation by [TC]² staff members Dr. Michael Fralix, Kerry King, and Jim Lovejoy, the agenda includes company representatives from Pantone, Brother International, and Dystar. Organizers are working to confirm several additional speakers and updated information will be forthcoming as the conference details develop.

On September 19th, attendees will visit Cotton Incorporated for a tour of its digital print and textile processing areas and [TC]², where visitors will gain insight into 3D technologies for product development and the integration of digital printing into the sewn product manufacturing environment.

Click here for conference registration.

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Seminar Offering at [TC]²

Seams and Stitches – The Technical Details
August 6, 2008

Are you able to effectively communicate to your suppliers the seam construction details for your products? There is a standard language to ensure that your sewn products maintain the consistency and quality demanded by your customers. Attend this one day ‘Seams and Stitches’ program to learn the nomenclature and how to identify the basic stitch formation and seam constructions. Hands-on exercises will help you discover what makes the stitches and seam types different and how to apply the right stitches and seams to specific products.

Program will be held at [TC]², 5651 Dillard Drive, Cary, NC.

For additional information or to register, contact Elizabeth Salisbury at 919.653.3507, or via our contact form.

To download or print a copy of [TC]²’s seminar offerings for 2008, click here (pdf).

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Important Dates

July

August

For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com

Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors
Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Lawson, Lectra, Methods Workshop and Reach Technologies.

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A Look Ahead in the Newsletter



Intermoda

View previous editions of this newsletter

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[TC]²
5651 Dillard Drive
Cary , NC 27518
www.tc2.com
Phone: 919-380-2156
Fax: 919-380-2181

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