Difference between rapier & projectile loom

 The Difference between a rapier loom and a projectile loom?

A weaving machine is a loom which is having three primary motions:

1.      Shedding

2.      Picking

3.      Beating

Based on the picking motions of the loom there are various types of weaving machines. Picking means that the insertion system of the weft which is employed to insert the weft through the warp shed formed.

The different types of looms are given below:

1.      Rapier looms

2.        Air jet looms

3.       Water jet loom

4.       Shuttle loom

5.       Projectile loom

 Rapier loom: In the rapier loom the weft is carried from the left side of the loom to the middle through the opened warp shed by the rapier and received by another rapier and taken to the right side of the loom.

Air jet loom: In an Air, jet looms the weft insertion is done using air. The main nozzles and relay nozzles will carry the weft through the opened warp shed.

Rapier looms are more suitable for weaving with delicate yarn like silk, wool, linen, chenille, etc. They are also mostly used with dobby for weave patterns up to 20 held frames. Yarn-dyed shirts and suiting with dobby designs, home textiles with fancy yarn like chenille, silk fabrics, and woolen shawls are some of the popular fabrics made in rapier looms. There dobby or jacquard will be used for shedding. The speed of the loom will be a maximum of 600 to 650 RPM, depending upon the width.

On the contrary, air jet looms are preferred due to the high production of standard fabrics. The most common shedding used here is cam motion, though dobby and jacquard are also used based on individual requirements. For air jet looms, yarn quality should be good (minimum hairiness, higher CSP for strength ). The speed can go around 1200 RPM again depending upon the width of the fabric. Yarn-dyed fabrics like denim are also being woven in air-jet looms extensively due to better yarn quality.