The effects of sewing thread properties on the needle thread tension in an industrial sewing machine

Abstract

This paper presents the measurement of the needle thread tension in an industrial sewing machine using various sewing threads. In this work, three types of sewing threads, air-jet textured (PET), core-spun (PET/PET) and (PET)-spun were used. Two lubricant types and two lubricant feeding rates were applied to these sewing threads. The results of this research show that the sewing thread type, lubricant type and lubricant feeding rate have important effects on the tension of the needle thread. The tension values were lowest for all of the sewing thread types using a paraffin-based lubricant. When paraffin wax was used in the lubricant the tension decreased slightly. Paraffin-based lubricants with 1 g/min lubricant feeding rate are suitable for sewing threads to achieve the lowest needle thread tension.