Machine Application

Raschel And Lace Machines

Raschel machines run coarser gauges, heavier yarns and open structures. The element families that matter most are the latch needle, the patterning hardware and, on lace machines, the piezo guide.

What Goes Wrong

Mixing new and part-worn latch needles in the same bar.
Ordering a pattern needle without the length, so it does not reach.
A lace machine down because one piezo guide type was not stocked.
Chain link heights unknown because the pattern was never written down.

Latch Needles Are Ordered As A Matched Set

A latch needle closes its own hook, which is what lets a raschel machine handle coarse gauges and heavy yarn with a simple drive. The trade-off is that the needle geometry has to be consistent across the bar: a new needle sitting beside a part-worn one knits a different loop length, and the join shows in the fabric.

The raschel needles on this catalogue are listed by their Raschel-Spec reference, which fixes the hook, the latch seat and the overall length. Quote it exactly.

Patterning On Lace Machines

Two patterning routes appear on this catalogue. The mechanical route uses pattern discs and chain links, where the link heights are the pattern and the follower converts them into guide bar shog. The electrical route uses piezo jacquard guides, where a voltage deflects the guide blade one needle space.

The original piezo description names MSJ lace machines among the machines these guides are supplied for, together with double needle bar machines, RD6 and RD7, and terry towel warp knitting machines.

Pattern And Jacquard Needles

The AF series pattern needles are listed with their lengths: AF1 and AF2 in 70, 100, 115, 135, 145 and 170, and AF3 in 125, 140, 158 and 200. The length is set by the machine and the pattern mechanism, so measure the old needle overall before ordering.