USTER AFISIntroduction

Since from 1990 Uster® a renowned name in the field of Textile Testing introduced, its first single cotton fiber testing equipment which was based on the optoelectronic principle.

Its first landmark was Uster® AFIS 0 and then a series of single fiber testing machines were introduced this series is as follows

AFIS 0 AFIS1 AFIS PRO AFIS PRO2

AFIS PRO

OVERVIEWThis Invention is a master piece in the field of fiber testing, it is use to analyze single fiber in the sample and give collective results. It can test 3000 fibers within 2.5-3 min and provide accurate results regarding neps ,seed coat neps, length, short fiber content, fineness, trash ,immaturity & immature fiber content. It helps in assessing fiber properties after every stage in spinning up to roving . After opening of sample by fiber individualizer, the opened fibers are accelerated by the nozzle, to the sensor head where each individual fiber is analyzed. Sample

assessment is done by powerful automatic sensor working on the principles of refraction, reflection &diffraction. Signals which do not fulfill the criteria of a cotton fiber are classified as fiber neps, seed coat neps, dust or trash.

The basic objectives of Uster® AFIS Pro includes, Measurements of

The amount of cotton fiber neps and seed coat neps.

Fiber length and short fiber content

Cotton maturity and immature fiber content.

The trash and dust content in cotton.

Blends can be tested up to a ratio of 50% cotton : 50% synthetic

Any material in the form of bale, mat, sliver or roving can be tested on the Uster® AFIS PRO, repeatedly and reliably.

Uster® AFIS PRO also provides critical nep size, dust size, drafting roll spacing diagram and control charts.

THE FIBER PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMDimensions

Quantity English Metric

length 46.5” 118 cm height 38.3” 97.4 cm depth 30.0” 76 cm weight Lbs. 408 185 gross kilos

Application100% cotton samples in the form of bale, opened and cleaned material (card mat), sliver, and roving. Waste material cannot be tested on the USTER AFIS PRO. Doing so can damage instrument components.Synthetic fibers can only be tested up to a 50/50% blend with cotton fibers in sliver and roving form. Uster Technologies does not guarantee test results on 100% synthetic fibers. Maximum fiber length: 2 inches (app. 50 mm).

Power

The following power requirements apply to both North American and European-type systems.Voltage (nominal): 208 or 230 volts ±10% (single phase)

Current: <10 Ampere (dedicated circuit breaker )

Frequency: 50 - 60 Hertz

Harmonic distortion: <5%

Wire size: Sufficient to have <5% drop from no load to full load

Electrical interference: Free of transient voltages from other equipment

The USTERAFIS PRO requires a separate, dedicated 10-Ampere circuit breaker at thefacility’s electrical load center. During normal operation the instrument draws approximately 5 Ampere. A power cord for connection is provided with the USTERAFIS PRO. The opposite end must be fitted with connections compatible with the facility’s electrical system.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

If you expect to have frequent power shutdowns, USTER Technologies recommends that an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) device be used to prevent loss of data or other related problems. The input for the UPS, which powers the computer and monitor only, is located on the back of the main cabinet beside the power entry connector.

Requirements for UPS to Support the Computer/Monitor

Warner Electric #UPSY52005-3 (recommended) or equivalent with the followingcharacteristics:

• "On-line" design for maximum protection against line transients

• Minimum output power rating of 500 VA (325 Watts) at 230 volts 50 or 60 Hz

• Input voltage of 195 - 264 volts, 50 or 60 Hz (single phase)

• Must be TÜV certified or bear the CE mark for European countries and be UL listed for North America• Run time of 5 minutes or greater Requirements for UPS to Support the Entire USTER Ò AFIS PRO Instrument

• SOLA #S42000TRM-5 for European power systems.

• SOLA #S41800-208TRM for North American power systems or their equivalent; minimum 1.5 KVA that meets the above requirements.

UPS is not required for the computer/monitor if UPS is used for the entire system.

Compressed Air

The air supplied to the instrument should comply with ISO 8573.1 Quality Class 3 asfollows:

DIRT Particle Size: <5 microns

WATER Pressure Dew Point: <-4_ F @ 100 PSIG (128 ppm by volume)

OIL (including vapor): <1.0 ppm

Air Pressure: (100-150 PSIG 700-1034 kPA)

Air Volume: The instrument requires at least three SCFM (85liters/min) supplied by a 10-mm (3/8 inch) line.

Laboratory Temperature: These specifications are for the ambient conditionsreferenced below. If the air line will be subjected totemperatures that could promote condensation, a water filter attached to the air line inside the lab is recommended to remove any condensation that may occur.

Ambient Conditions According to ISO 139, the following ambient conditions must be maintained in the laboratoryin order to get repeatable and comparable test results:

o Temperature: 20±2°C; 65 °F to 72 °F

o Relative Humidity: 65±2%

For consistent test results, fiber samples should be conditioned in the laboratory environmentwith the above-mentioned ambient conditions for 24 hours. Samples should be laid outopenly in the laboratory, and taken out of plastic bags, in order for the cotton to fully condition to the environment.

Working and construction

The unique measuring system of the USTER® AFIS PRO counts every fiber, nep and trash/dust particle one by one.

The Fiber Individualizer gently opens single-fiber of the test material. The USTER® AFIS PRO sensors also use patented technology, ensuring

true single-fiber, nep and trash particle Counts. to get the detailed information, to set production machinery accurately.

Measurement principles

Fiber individualizer

AIR IN CARDING FLAT

Optical measuring zoneUSTER® AFIS PRO is an optical system. The fiber sample is opened into individual fibers in the opening unit, and are then passed in the free airflow by the optoelectronic sensor. The pulses generated by the sensor are converted into electronic signals and evaluated by a computer.

One sensor distinguish between individual fibers and neps and second sensor is required for the trash and dust particle measurement. After the test has been completed the fiber, neps,dust and trash particles are deposited into waste container.

Measurements and Calculations

All measurements are performed optically on individual fibers and events (neps and trash).

Nep Classification: Fiber and seed coat nep count per gram and size (_m)distribution.

Length: Fiber length by number and by weight distributions; short fibercontent by number and by weight (%).

Maturity: Maturity, immature fiber content (%) and fineness (mtex)distribution.

Trash: Dust and trash count per gram and size (_m) distribution; visible.

MEASURING PRINCIPLE OF SINGLE FIBER TESTINGIn the fiber individualizer unit, the sample is mechanically opened and separated into single fibers by an air stream. The trash and dust particles are filtered off, and an air stream transports the fibers and neps to an electro-optical sensor, which produces characteristic waveforms. The filtered off dust and trash particles are measured by a second sensor. The resulting electronic signals are transmitted to a microcomputer, which recognizes and evaluates the impulses. After calculating the statistical results, all values are presented on the screen and printer.

MAIN BENEFITS:

Reduced or eliminated fabric barré Reduced short fiber content Reduced or eliminated neps Improved accuracy and efficiency of machinery settings Reduced maintenance costs Possibility to analyze material at every stage of the spinning process, from raw cotton to roving

Establish optimum maintenance schedules on production machinery Optimize machinery settings Detect unsuitable cotton types

AFIS PRO MODULESThe USTER AFIS PRO comes with different modules enabling a customized configuration for each plant.

NC MODULE The NC Module is included in the base configuration of the USTER AFIS PRO. It stands for “Nep Classification” and measures the amount and the size of neps and seed coat neps in raw cotton, card mat and sliver.

L&M MODULE The L&M Module measures fiber length and maturity in raw cotton, card mat and sliver. The length is measured on single fibers in order to get a true fiber length distribution within a cotton sample. The USTER AFIS PRO is the only instrument that measures the maturity of single fibers, resulting in a true distribution of maturity within a cotton sample.

T – MODULE

The T Module measures the amount and size of dust and trash particles in cotton fibers.

AUTOJET MODULE

The AutoJet Module is a sampling device that enables an automated and, thus, more efficient use of the AFIS. Thirty samples can be loaded in the tubes of the AutoJet cassette prior to starting a test series. When the test has been started, the operator can attend other tasks in the laboratory.

NEPS One of the most important influences on the quality of the end product is the number of neps in the raw material. Neps in spun yarn degrades the appearance of woven and knitted materials. A particularly damaging effect is variable dye uptake of neps, which can be reduced only by means of corrective measures at the dying and finishing stages. These measures are often costly and time consuming.

“Analyzing and tracking the frequency, number, and size of neps from one processing stage to another is a vital quality control tool for optimizing spinning conditions”.

MEASUREMENTS INCLUDE :

1. Neps that are a result of immature fibers 2. Seed coat fragments 3. Neps that are produced during opening and cleaning of the cotton 4. Neps that are produced by the machines in the spinning process

(cards, combers, and draw-frames)5. Nep and seed coat nep size distributions

TRASH & DUST Cottons from different growth areas vary not only with respect to the number and size of trash particles, but also to the degree of cleaning required for a given growth area. USTER® AFIS-T provides valuable information as to how certain cottons will react to the different processing stages. Consequently, the optimum settings for the opening and cleaning machines can be determined for each type of cotton with reference to its growth area. If the trash content in each card sliver is kept under continuous control, optimum settings at each separate machine, as well as optimum maintenance and disturbance-correction conditions can be instituted (e.g., re-grinding of the card clothing.)

MEASUREMENTS INCLUDE:

1. Distribution in the size of trash and dust particles (histograms). 2. Number of dust and trash particles per gram. 3. Average size of the trash particles.. 4. Percentage content or foreign matter, dust and trash.

LENGTH AND MATURITY

LENGTH AND SHORT FIBER CONTENT

Fiber length information is necessary for a spinning mill to operate efficiently and to consistently produce a quality product. Although USTER® AFIS can be used to measure

the length in raw cotton, its real strength lies in the information provided during the processes that precede yarn manufacturing.

Critical processes that create and control the quality of cotton sliver must be monitored and controlled on a regular basis. For example, knowing the exact short fiber content can help you assess the number of thick places that may occur in your yarn. Decisions on rebuilding equipment and establishing maintenance schedules as well as choosing machine components can be made objectively by using USTER® AFIS length data

MEASUREMENTS INCLUDE:

1. Percent of Short Fiber Content by number and by weight (>.50 inches/ 12.7mm)

2. Length by number and by weight 3. Coefficient of variation of fiber length by number and by weight 4. Upper Quartile Length by weight 5. 5.0% length by number

MATURITY:

The maturity and fineness of cotton fibers have long been a subject of much debate. In many regions, micronaire is thought to be a measurement of fineness as well as a good indication of maturity.

Experience has shown that for many cotton varieties the micronaire may NOT be a good indication of either maturity or

fineness. Tight control of the micronaire average and range in each bale in a mix has not eliminated all the problems of barré in finished fabric.

The USTER® AFIS Maturity module was developed to measure not only the average values but also the distribution of fiber maturity and fineness.

Immature fibers in raw material are the major cause of white specks and barré in dyed and finished fabric.

MEASUREMENTS INCLUDE:

1. Fineness (millitex) 2. Immature Fiber Content% 3. Maturity Ratio

THE FASTEST AFIS EVER

The radically new USTER® AFIS PRO is changing the industry standards of fiber testing at the speed of light. The most Advanced Fiber Information System in the world is now faster, easier to use, and even more essential than ever before.

Now you can analyze not only the raw material, but also the entire spinning process with unrivaled speed and accuracy. With the flexible software package, you have the information you need in an easy to read summary so you can produce fault free fabric.

MAIN BENEFITS

PROcessing speed is now 50% faster PROtection against inferior fiber quality PROfessional and sleek design PROgram friendly Windows interface PROductivity with USTER QualiProfile PROfit increase in your bottom line

References:- www.uster.com AFIS PRO manual.