Compu-Jacq Loom Update

The AVL Compu-Jacq Loom continues to grow and evolve. As of December 1997, we are putting the finishing touches on our first-ever Dobby-Jacq Loom, a remarkable amalgam of our two major shedding mechanisms.

The idea behind the Dobby-Jacq is to utilize the patterning capabilities of the Electronic Jacquard to it's fullest extent, without having to spare any capacity (hooks) for the ground. Hence, we added an eight harness dobby and associated harnesses directly behind the jacquard heddles.

In essence, then, the weaver will alternate picks, one pattern/one ground, in a form similar to the pick-and-pick that many are familiar with in Overshot or Summer-and-Winter weaving. Thus even the most complex and intricate pattern will be "held together" by the ground.

In early 1998, the AVL Dobby-Jacq will find its way to the home of one very excited weaver in Seattle, Washington. We hope to have a follow-up article on her progress in the next issue of the Mail Shuttle.

A Little Background

The AVL Compu-Jacq Loom is the result of a collaboration between AVL and TIS, of Lyon, France. The marriage of AVL's renowned loom with TIS' modular compact electronic jacquard has resulted in a particularly adaptable and efficient loom.

The AVL Compu-Jacq yields individual control over each thread, thus providing the equivalent of 576, 1152, or 1728 or more "harnesses".

A Key Feature

Perhaps the key feature on the AVL Compu-Jacq is its flexible warp density. Unlike other jacquards or individual thread control units, the Compu-Jacq can be adjusted to accommodate almost any warp density and can generally be changed in less than two hours.

This is a crucial advantage, because it means the weaver can work with a wide variety of fibers and setts. TIS' wonderfully innovative (and patented) "comber strips" makes it all possible. Using the strips, glass rods, and a series of spacers, one can easily adjust the width and density. Plus TIS have provided us with a very efficient Microsoft Excel-based spreadsheet to help determine the correct number and angle of spacing for almost all densities.

It's features like flexible warp density, and AVL's continual willingness to push the boundaries of handweaving, that are helping to make the Compu-Jacq the loom that everyone is talking about.

See it for yourself at Convergence'98 in Atlanta. Or visit us in Chico.

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