Great value through IPI monitoring - observation of wear and tear
MillMaster® TOP's Lab Trend helps spinning mills in multiple ways. For example, it enables the monitoring of imperfection (IPI) trends. This not only enables a better understanding of the parameters that influence the yarn quality, but also allows tracking of wear and tear on parts. Additionally, it offers valuable performance information for selecting the most suitable machine accessories and effectively scheduling maintenance work.
The following example shows how the IPI values can be used to draw conclusions about the state of wear of certain components and thus the need for maintenance work. The Lab Trend also helps you make the right choice of machine accessories.
The following Lab Trend shows a continuous increase in thick places from 2 to 4 cm (IPI thick). The surface of the top roller is exposed to wear due to the constant friction and must be periodically grinded. The IPI values of the Lab Trend can therefore be used as an indicator of the best time for this service work.
By planning maintenance work based on the IPI values, it prevents the service from occurring too late, ensuring no loss of quality. It also delays the need for grinding work, therefore reducing machine downtime, and ultimately costs.
MillMaster TOP not only helps you identify necessary maintenance work, but also helps you choose the right machine components. For example, it can determine the optimal cradle spacer for the top roller.
The cradle spacer is used to optimize the main drafting zone of every ring spinning position. Selecting the appropriate cradle spacer may occasionally necessitate several iterations before achieving the optimal outcome.
MillMaster TOP's Lab Trend can effectively visualize the impact of the cradle spacer type used, ultimately helping achieve optimal results. This occurs in real-time by evaluating 2-70 cm long thick places. The various sizes of the cradle spacers directly affect the occurrence of these undesirable thick places.
Similarly, the different types of bottom aprons from various suppliers can be compared based on the resulting yarn quality.
Summary of the influencing factors on IPI value
MillMaster TOP Lab Trend greatly assists in easily identifying the reasons behind quality deviations. The table below offers a concise summary of the influencing factors on IPI mentioned in the previous examples.
| IPI Thick | Reason |
| IPI 2 – 4 cm | Wear and tear of the top roller |
| IPI 2 – 70 cm | Choice of bottom apron type |
| IPI 2 – 70 cm | Choice of cradle spacer |
MillMaster TOP “LabTrend” not only monitors and evaluates yarn quality but also facilitates maintenance planning, machine settings monitoring, and selection of the most suitable machine accessories.