AVL Automatic Cloth Advance System

“And the new automatic cloth advance is awesome - after 30+ years of weaving, I am finally able to weave fine cloth with a consistent beat!”
           -- Alice Schlein; AVL 40 Loom (predecessor of the 40 Harness A-Series Loom)

More customer testimonials

AVL is proud to introduce a real time saver, the Automatic Cloth Advance System. Available for both bottom swing and overhead beaters.

The Auto Advance is designed to precisely advance the woven cloth a given distance with each beat. The distance ranges from approximately 4 to 120 picks per inch and is mechanically driven by the beater. The system is available on new looms and will retrofit on many existing AVLs.

The Automatic Cloth Advance makes the process of weaving easier. No longer does the weaver have to break his or her cadence to manually advance the warp and adjust the cloth. Rather the beater hits the cloth in the same position, which results in a constant distance between picks and a consistent piece of cloth.

For those of you who already have been using the AVL Auto Advance, you are probably asking, "So, what's different?" Specifically, the Auto Advance is so much easier to use! Within a few seconds, a weaver can adjust the pick count by simply sliding a knob along the adjusting bar. The one adjusting bar even offers a wider range of pick counts. All the charts, parts, changes, and wasted time have been eliminated. The Auto Advance is one set up that does everything. If you still don't get it, there are no more pick wheels!

I. Parts

- 1 Wood Cloth Beam Support with Bearing Housing Assembly and Arm
- 2 Beater Leg Bracket with Connecting Rod
- 3 Hardware: One hex bolt (3/8 x 2 1/4"), two washers, and a nut and One hex bolt (3/8 x 2"), two washers, and a nut

II. Tools You Will Need to Install

- 9/16, 7/16, and 1/2 wrench
- Phillips screwdriver
- (For drilling wood cloth beams only) drill and a13/64 drill bit Strip of paper, 2" x 6"

III. Assembly

1.) If you have the old Auto Advance on your loom, take it off of the loom.

2.) Remove the existing wood cloth beam support from your loom.

3.) If you have been using the old Auto Advance or have an aluminum cloth beam, then your cloth beam will already have holes in it for the screws that secure the large gear. Otherwise, you will have to drill holes into your wood cloth beam.

To mark the spot to drill, take the large gear and slide it onto the axle of the cloth beam; hold it to the end of the cloth beam. In other words, you are using the gear as a template to mark the hole position. Drill one hole at each spot with your 13/64 drill bit.

Screw the large gear to the end of your cloth beam with your Phillips screwdriver.

4.) Attach the new cloth beam support with Bearing House Assembly to your loom. The arm should be placed on the outside of the loom.

5.) Adjusting the gears: Using your 7/16 wrench, slightly loosen the bolt that secures the metal triangular bracket to the wood cloth support. (If your loom is warped, remove the tension from the warp.) Insert the strip of paper between the gears and roll the cloth beam towards you to roll the paper between the gears. The paper provides a small amount of space between the gears so that they don't bind during adjustment. Return to the triangular bracket and push the bracket part toward the beater. Tighten the bolts. Remove the paper from between the gears by gently rolling the cloth beam towards you.

To check the adjustment, disengage the gears (Bearing Housing) by snapping off the plastic spacer on the outside of the assembly. Push the gear rod in toward the inside of the loom. This will disengage the gears. Gently roll the cloth beam towards you. Re-engage the gears by sliding the small gear back under the large gear. Roll the cloth beam toward you, cycle it all the way around to make sure there are no tight spots. Redo if necessary.

6.) Attach the Beater Leg Bracket to the beater leg: There should be eight holes already drilled into the beater leg. The hole closest to the edge on the Beater Leg Bracket goes to the bottom of the beater leg, lining up with the first hole on the leg; the middle hole on the Bracket aligns with the top (eighth hole) on the beater leg. Put one washer on the hex bolt (3/8 x 2 1/4") and put the bolt through the top Bracket hole; then put on the second washer and secure with the nut. Repeat this process with the shorter hex bolt (3/8 x 2") and the bottom hole on the Bracket.

7.) The Connecting Rod that is attached to the Bracket can now be connected to the Arm. Unscrew the black knob and remove the spacer, washer, and bolt. Move the Rod up toward the middle hole on the outside of the Arm. Put the washer on the bolt and put bolt through the holes on the Arm and Rod end. Put the spacer on and screw the knob back on.

IV. How to Use the Auto Advance

The AVL Automatic Cloth Advance System is an efficient means by which you can automatically advance your warp as you are weaving. It allows you to maintain an absolutely consistent beat throughout your warp even after changing weft material.

NOTE: Due to the fact that the picks per inch vary according to the diameter of the front cloth beam, the Cloth Storage System is highly recommended for use in conjunction with the Automatic Cloth Advance System.

For this reason also, a long apron should be used so that you can start your warp directly on the rear cloth storage roller.

With your loom warped and tensioned and the Auto Advance adjusted, pull your beater forward so that it lightly contacts the front bumpers. Now bring it back so that it contacts the rear bumpers. (This full swing of the beater is crucial to the proper functioning of the Auto Advance.)

Adjusting picks: The top hole on the arm is for 4-12 picks per inch (p.p.i.) and relates to the top portion of the beater leg bracket. The bottom hole on the arm is for 12 - 120 (approximately) p.p.i. and relates to the bottom portion of the bracket.

For 4-12 p.p.i., tighten the connecting rod end into the top hole of the arm. Loosen the knob that secures the connecting rod to the bracket. Slide the knob and connecting rod between the 4 and 12 positions until it is at the p.p.i. that you want.

For 12-120 (approximately) p.p.i., tighten the connecting rod end into the bottom hole of the arm. Loosen the knob that secures the connecting rod to the bracket. Slide the knob and connecting rod between the 12 and 120 positions until it is at the p.p.i. that you want.

If you want to back up your cloth for any reason, here's what you'll need to do. Snap off the plastic spacer that is on the outside of the gear housing. Push the gear rod in toward the inside of the loom. This will disengage the gears. If you want to keep the Auto Advance disengaged, you can snap the plastic spacer onto the rod next to the small gear.

We look forward to helping you advance your weaving to new levels.

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