Flat weft knitting

Computerised flat weft knitting is the most versatile technology in 3D knitting. The key elements that are essential to the development of 3D knitted textiles include the needle, needle bed, racking mechanism, carriage and cams, yam carriers, take-down... 

Both weft and warp knitting machines are able to construct tubular structures. Although circular weft knitting machines can only be used in producing single tubes, flat weft knitting machines with two needle beds and double-needle bar Raschel machines are able to produce single, bifurcated and multibranched tubes. 

Compared to circular weft knitting, flat weft knitting is more flexible in producing tubular structures due to the capabilities of individual needle selection, loop transfer and multiple system knitting and the use of stitch presser and holding down sinkers... 

Thus, all seamless garment weft-knitting machines could be divided into two classes circular body-width machines and flat V-bed machines. 

Flat knitting, weft knitting and warp knitting... 

As the name implies, yarns run horizontally across the width of the fabric. The knitting needles form the loops in horizontal courses, with one loop built on top of the other, and are generally made from a single yarn. Weft knits can be made flat on a flat bed machine, or tubular on a circular knitting machine. Weft knits are basic loop structures and can be stretched in both directions (Figure 21.16). 

Weft-knit fabric (1943) n. See circular-knit fabric and flat-knit fabric. 

Barone, Argentina) weft-knitted with single jersey stitch, 454 polyester vascular prosthesis (VascutekTriaxial) warp-knitted with a locknit stitch, 453 polyester vascular prosthesis warp-knitted from flat compact multifilament yarns, 450 polyester vascular prosthesis with double velour warp-knitted structure, 452... 

Flat Knit Fabric n (1) A fabric made on a flat-knitting machine, as distinguished from tubular fabrics made on a circular-knitting machine. While tricot and mil-anese warp-knit fabrics (non-run) are knit in flat form, the trade uses the term flat-knit fabric to refer to weft-knits fabrics made on a flat machine, rather than warp-knit fabrics. (2) A term used in the underwear trade for plain stitch fabrics made on a circular-knitting machine. These fabrics have a flat surface and are often called flat-knit fabrics to differentiate them from ribbed-knit or Swiss rib fabrics. In this case, the term refers to the texture, not the type of machine on which the fabric was knit (Kadolph SJJ, Langford AL (2001) Textiles. Pearson Education, New York Vincenti R (ed) (1994) Elsevier s textile dictionary. Elsevier Science and Technology Books, New York). 

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