Development of a diamond shaped light radiating textile - an experimental flat knitting process with optical fibres

Abstract

This paper is about the experimental product development of a light radiating textile lamp in which optical fibres are used as the only illumination source. The assigning company is GloFab, a company located in Stockholm, which designs different kinds of light radiating textile products. The paper is based on the work of a research project which had an inductive approach; the project consisted of a literature survey and experimental work on a flat knitting machine located in the knitting laboratory at the Swedish School of Textiles, in Borås, Sweden. The aim with the research project was to explore the possibilities to produce a knitted lampshade integrating optical fibres, shaped as a diamond with a hexagon basis (see Figure 1). This was done on an electronic flat knitting machine with special equipment suitable for the feeding of yarn with high stiffness. This is interesting for GloFab because it gives possibilities to industrialize the production process and by doing so reach a wider market. In a broader perspective it is relevant to study how new materials can be used in traditional textile processes. The product development consists of two parts: exploring the possibilities to knit the desired shape on one hand and experiments about knitting with optical fibres as a weft insertion on the other hand.