Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a knife edge offset in a cutter toolhead having a cutter toolhead frame. The apparatus including a knife moveably coupled to the toolhead, an actuated arm moveably attached to the cutter toolhead frame, a computer controller for controlling the movement of the knife and actuated arm, an abrasive sharpener moveably attached to the actuated arm and adapted to contact the knife, and a sensor adapted to determine a distance between the cutter toolhead frame and the actuated arm. The computer controller of the apparatus is further capable of adjusting the movement of the knife and the actuated arm as a function of the distance determined by the sensor.

Abstract: The swivel knife holder assembly includes a shoulder screw defining an axis, and having a proximal threaded end and a distal head, and mounted on the shoulder screw is a bobbin assembly. The swivel knife holder assembly also includes a shell defining an interior, and having a distal opening and a proximal opening. A core is secured in the interior and is coupled to a knife for cutting fabric material. The proximal opening of the shell is defined by a flange and houses the shoulder screw therein. Threadably coupled to the proximal threaded end of the shoulder screw is a stem. The stem secures the bobbin assembly within the shell and also includes a mounting surface for engaging a reciprocating drive mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for handling overlay sheet material on a cutting apparatus including a conveyor for moving work material in a longitudinal direction and a support for positioning a tensioner frame adjacent the conveyor. A tensioner frame, attached to the support, has a nip wheel and a drive for rotating the nip wheel with a tangential speed in excess of the longitudinal conveyor speed attached to the tensioner frame. The nip wheel engages the overlay sheet material applying a tension thereto in the same longitudinal direction as the conveyor.

Abstract: A garment production system, comprising a virtual development environment configured to receive and store in a database thereof body information relating to a user, establish measurements for the user based on the body information, display, on a display device connected to the virtual development environment, a virtual representation of the user using the established measurements, customize one or more garments for the user based on the established measurements, display, on the display device, a virtual representation of the one or more customized garments on the virtual representation of the user, receive and store in the database personalization information from the user regarding the one or more customized garments, and alter the one or more customized garments and the virtual representation thereof based on the received personalization information for manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A feed assist apparatus for a flexible sheet material spreader, comprising a first arm attached at a first end to one side of the material spreader, a second arm attached at a first end to another side of the material spreader, and a material retainer attached at a second end of each of the first and second arms, the material retainer having a first configuration for feeding flexible sheet material there-through and a second configuration for retaining flexible sheet material. The first arm and the second arm are moveable together from a first position adjacent a flexible material supply and a second position adjacent entry to the material spreader, and the material retainer is in the second configuration when the moveable arms are in the first position, and the material retainer is in the first configuration when the moveable arms are in the second position.

Abstract: A material testing apparatus comprising a frame having three or more tracks, and a plurality of mounts positioned within the three or more tracks. The mounts including an attachment mechanism to attach the mounts to a material being tested. The mounts including a force measurement elements. Some of the mounts free mounts that move in a track slot within the track, the free mounts free to move to any position within the track slot. The apparatus further comprising a data collector to collect data from the force measurement elements in the mounts when the material is placed under stress, to characterize the material.

Abstract: A cutting system including a cutting table and a first cutting material belt movably supported about the cutting table and a second cutting material removably supported above the first cutting material, the laser cutting material having a metal material having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough.

Abstract: An improved system to provide a clothing model in augmented reality and/or virtual reality is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system provides a fully simulated garment, on the user's device, in an augmented reality or virtual reality display. In one embodiment, the process uses a parameterized smart garment model which enables real-time interaction with the garment on a device such as a mobile phone or tablet, with limited memory and processing power. In one embodiment, the system permits nearly instantaneous alteration of garment sizes. Because the garment is modeled to accurately reflect physical details, the lay of the garment changes as the size of the garment or body changes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting sheet material, comprising a frame including a first arm and a second arm, the second arm in communication with the first arm to support a roll of the sheet material there-between, and a drive roller for transporting the sheet material from the roll. The first arm and the second arm automatically resize the frame corresponding to the dimensions of the roll of the sheet material to provide constant tension in the roll of sheet material by controlling a position of the roll of the sheet material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining sheet material edges on a surface including a sensor configured to detect an outer edge and a usable edge of the sheet material and a controller in communication with the sensor. The sensor comprises a first color optical sensor producing a first signal representing a first physical attribute of the sheet material and a second color optical sensor producing a second signal representing a second physical attribute of the sheet material. The controller comprises a processor, a memory, and a communications adapter, controls dispensing and spreading of the sheet material for detection by the sensor, and signals to a user a presence of the usable edge in the sheet material upon detection by the sensor.

Abstract: A system for processing a work-piece including a sheet of material into pieces includes a production environment configured for collecting data characterizing the work-piece and for subsequently cutting the work-piece into a plurality of products; and a development environment separate from the production environment, the development environment configured for receiving characterization data from the production environment, developing a nesting strategy for cutting the work-piece and providing the nesting strategy.

Abstract: A computer program product including machine executable instructions stored on machine readable media for implementing a method for controlling color reproduction during manufacture of fabric for a garment is provided. The method includes: obtaining appearance information descriptive of the appearance desired for the fabric; obtaining color profile information for a device that generated the appearance information; updating the appearance information with the color profile information; selecting parts information descriptive of the geometry of at least one part of the garment and applying the updated appearance information to provide updated parts information; and storing the updated parts information for reference during the manufacture. A system and a method are described.