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Open-end spinning

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Open-end spinning is a fast way to turn fibers into yarn. This method is also called rotor spinning or break spinning. It is a very important tool for making clothes. Many factories use it to meet the huge demand for spun fiber. This technology helps make yarn more quickly and at a lower cost. It is different from older ways of spinning because it does not use a spindle.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau

To understand how it works, think about a clothes dryer full of sheets. If you pulled a sheet out while it spun, the sheet would spin together. This machine works in a similar way using a part called a rotor. First, soft bundles of fiber called sliver go into the rotor. The rotor spins these fibers into a long strand of yarn. Then, the yarn wraps up on a bobbin to be used later. This process is much faster than ring spinning. Some rotors can spin at speeds up to 140,000 rpm.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau

People have been working to improve spinning for three centuries. Open-end spinning was invented in 1963 in Czechoslovakia. It was developed at the Cotton Research Institute in Ústí nad Orlicí. Before this, people used hand spinning or mule spinning. In 1937, a person named Berthelsen developed a good open end. Later, Julius Meimberg patented the rotor in 1949. The first machines in the United Kingdom were kept very secret. A company called Courtaulds put them in Maple Mill, Oldham, in 1967.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau

Modern machines are very smart and can do many jobs. They can spin yarn for denim, towels, or even construction fabrics. Some machines can be programmed to make many different thicknesses. These machines can handle yarn counts from 4sNe to 60sNe. They also use robots called autopiecers to fix breaks in the yarn. This helps the machines work without needing as many people. Some big machines, like the Savio Super Spinner 3000, make very large yarn packages. These packages can weigh as much as 6 kg.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau

There are some things to keep in mind about this method. It works best for making coarse, or thick, yarn. It is not usually used for very thin yarns. The yarn made this way can feel a bit fuzzy. It might also not resist wear as well as ring-spun yarn. Using certain materials can also cause wear on the rotor and rollers. This means parts might need to be replaced often. Even with these limits, it is a huge part of how we make textiles today.

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1009-003, Sekundärrohstoff-Spinnerei Werdau
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