Abstract: Polyacrylonitrile filaments and fibers may be obtained without interruption by spinning the spinning solution into a hot-air spinning duct, washing, drawing, crimping, preparing, steaming, drying cooling and, optionally, cutting at a take-off rate kept at 150 to 400 m/minute and for a tow weight of from 10 to 100 g/m when(a) the washing process is carried out in several stages on the countercurrent principle and a vibrating duct is used for transporting the spun tow through the washing process,(b) drawing is carried out before and/or after washing in a steam atmosphere at 100.degree. to 120.degree. C.,(c) crimping is carried out in an aerodynamic crimping unit using a hot, gaseous medium under a pressure of from 5 to 16 bars and at a temperature in the range from 50.degree. to 210.degree. C.