Process Guide
Piezo Jacquard Guides Explained
A piezo guide is the point where warp knitting patterning stopped being purely mechanical. Understanding what it does explains why it is a consumable.
What The Guide Actually Does
Behind the guide blade sits a piezoelectric bender. Apply a voltage of one polarity and the bender flexes one way; reverse it and it flexes the other. The blade moves by one needle space, left or right.
That single needle of deflection, applied independently to each guide, is enough to build a jacquard pattern without any mechanical pattern drive behind the guide bar.
Which Machines Use Them
The original description on this catalogue states that piezo jacquard is an important electrical spare part for warp knitting machines such as the double needle bar machine, RD6 and RD7, MSJ lace machines and terry towel warp knitting machines, and that piezo guides are supplied for Karl Mayer machines including E14, E18, E24, E28 and E32.
Why They Are Consumable
A piezo element is flexed on every course it is asked to move. Ceramic fatigue is cumulative, so a piezo guide has a service life measured in cycles rather than in visible wear. Nothing looks worn when it fails.
The practical effect is a permanent line in the pattern at that guide position. That is why mills running patterned goods hold piezo guides as stock rather than ordering them when one fails.
Ordering By Gauge And Type Code
The catalogue lists piezo guides two ways: by gauge, from E12 through E32, and by type code, such as 12B, 12C, 12L, 18B, 18L, 20L, 24B, 24D, 24L, 24R, 28B, 28L and 32D. Quote both the gauge and the code from the old guide, and photograph the connector end.
The original description also notes that there are many types beyond those pictured on the website, and invites orders for any of them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How far does a piezo guide move?
One needle space, left or right, driven by the applied voltage.
What do the letters after the gauge mean?
They are the type codes used on the original catalogue listing, such as B, C, D, L and R.
My type is not shown on the site. Can it be supplied?
The original description states there are many types that could not all be photographed, and invites orders for them.
Need One Of These Parts
Send the machine brand, machine type, gauge and a photograph of the worn part.