USTER AFIS PRO 2 Product Detail

USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 –
THE STANDARD TOOL FOR PROCESS CONTROL

How can you be sure that your cards will perform according to your specifications? How can you maintain steady-state processing conditions? Only regular process control will give you peace of mind. The USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 provides you with the essential data necessary for modern process control techniques in the spinning mill. Basic measurements of the NC Module include the amount of cotton fiber and seed coat neps. The optional L&M Module measures fiber length and short fiber content, plus cotton maturity and immature fiber content. The optional Trash Module measures the trash and dust content in cotton. Any material in the form of bale, mat, sliver or roving can be tested on the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2, repeatedly and reliably. Blends can be tested up to a ratio of 50% cotton : 50% synthetic. New on the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 is critical nep size, dust size, fiber nep size, drafting roll spacing diagram and control charts.

PATTENTED AND PROVEN MEASURING TECHNOLOGY

The unique measuring system of the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 counts every fiber, nep and trash particle one by one. The Fiber Individualizer ensures single-fiber measurement, with gentle opening of the test material. This patented and proven design provides data of unmatched accuracy and precision, the essential basis for sound process control decisions. The USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 sensor also uses patented technology, ensuring true single-fiber, nep and trash particle counts – so that you get the detailed information you need to set your production machinery accurately.

IMPROVED QUALITY – ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY

The complete USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 system brings real benefits to the modern yarn production mill, in terms of both quality and economic efficiency. Firstly, off-quality claims from your customers because of high nep levels can be reduced. There will also be extra cost savings at the vital preparation stages of opening, carding and combing, thanks to process optimization achieved through using USTER^® AFIS PRO 2. This in turn will cut out unnecessary waste and reduce the level of scheduled machine maintenance required. The overall effect will be an extremely attractive return on your investment in the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 system.

USTER^® AUTOJET – OPERATING AUTOMATION
IMPROVES TESTING EFFICIENCY

Today’s trend toward streamlining laboratory operations calls for higher degrees of automation in testing. The USTER^® AUTOJET lets you test 30 samples simultaneously. After loading the USTER^® AUTOJET cassette, the operator can attend to other duties in the laboratory. The USTER^® AUTOJET will run the samples automatically. With the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 operating software the USTER^® AUTOJET test configuration can be fully customized. The USTER^® AUTOJET is an optional module especially designed for users who have high throughput or stringent labor requirements, or who simply want to improve their laboratory’s testing efficiencies.

NC MODULE – NEP CLASSIFICATION DETECTS
PROCESSING PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY ESCALATE

Fiber neps are fiber entanglements of more than one fiber. They are created in ginning, and in the opening and cleaning process in the spinning mill. They can be eliminated in carding and combing. But that depends on the general condition of the production machinery and its settings.

A high nep content in raw cotton will inevitably lead to a high nep content in yarn and fabric, and thus to second-quality production. Such quality problems can only be prevented by regular monitoring of all intermediate spinning processes with the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2. With the new critical nep size, yarn neps can be minimized to ensure a quality fabric. The USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 nep-measuring method is the only method officially recognized by ASTM and ITMF.

L&M MODULE – LENGTH AND MATURITY
AVOIDING OUTLIER PRODUCTION

The USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 allows the cotton spinner to detect processing problems before it is too late – before they end up as yarn faults. Thick places in sliver result from a high accumulation of short fibers that tend to stick together in the drafting process. They are difficult to eliminate and cause a higher number of thick and thin places in the yarn, reducing the overall yarn quality.

In the past, regular control of short-fiber content in the various process stages was impossible due to the limited – manual – measuring methods available at that time. These were very time consuming, and simply not practical for routine operation. Today, the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 short-fiber content is used simultaneously with the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 nep-content to evaluate carding and combing efficiencies in the spinning mill.

NC MODULE – NEP CLASSIFICATION MANAGING
SEED COAT NEPS IN PROCESSING

The NC Module distinguishes between fiber and seed coat neps. Seed coat neps are broken parts of the cotton seed with fibers still attached. They are created in ginning, but some cotton varieties tend to create more seed coat neps than others. They are very difficult to clean and may create stickiness in the spinning process.

Seed coat neps are easily visible as black spots on the plain fabric surface. To dye the fabric evenly, it has to be bleached prior to the dyeing process – an additional and costly process in fabric finishing.

T MODULE – TRASH MANAGING
TRASH AND DUST LEVELS IN PROCESSING

Different cottons contain different types and amounts of contamination. Larger trash can be removed more easily than small-sized dust particles, which stick to the cotton fiber material. Dust size and trash size are now reported separately. The Trash Module measures dust and trash particles per gram, in accordance with ITMF recommendations.

Dust is not considered in current cotton-classing systems. Yet, increased cotton dust levels result in higher abrasion in all stages of spinning and processing. In addition, a high dust content in finisher sliver can also cause a Moiré effect in open-end spinning, and increased ends-down levels in further processing.

USTER^® STATISTICS –
FOR COMPLETE PROCESS BENCHMARKING

The USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 is the only fiber-testing instrument that allows the entire spinning process to be analyzed – from bale to roving. USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 is the only benchmarking tool available that allows USTER^® AFIS PRO 2  users to compare their process results with worldwide levels in spinning performance. USTER^® STATISTICS using USTER^® AFIS PRO 2 test results are available for the carded and combed ring spinning process and the carded open-end spinning process. They are based on extensive data accumulation over the past 15+ years, since the AFIS was introduced in the cotton industry. The USTER^® STATISTICS for process benchmarking are automatically included in the USTER^® QUALIPROFILE report software of the USTER^® AFIS PRO 2.