Here is the end feed flyshuttle I have been working on for a bit. It has a set of wheels on the underbelly, a tightning mechanism and a home made pirn loaded with 2-ply wool.

 

Picture showing the pirn mounting hardware. Knock down fitting (cam and bolt) and brass insert. The cam has an arrow that points to the insertion point in the shuttle for loading and unloading with no guess work. Tightened with a screw driver. The pirn will hold 10 yards of 2 ply wool yarn easily.

 

Some video (7 secs) demonstrating the shuttle in motion across a hardwood floor. As we know a hardwood floor is not perfectly smooth. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FStpursYeuU

 

Testing pirn spooling with different thread weight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-wlVvpdFw

 

Enjoy. :)

Comments

Tue, 03/27/2012 - 20:46

ReedGuy

Today I made up 8 more pirns for the shuttle for more continuous weaving and less breaks loading a pirn. Here's a few of them.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 18:27

Erica

I'm curious how do you wind these pirns?

Cheers,

Erica

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 18:48

ReedGuy

A home made pirn winder.

See the thread "Pirn Winder", link below.

http://weavolution.com/group/home-built-equipment/pirn-winder-21785

 

The brass inserts are threaded end to end. The pirn is drilled beyond the insert with a smaller diameter hole to accomodate the winder spindle.

Fri, 05/11/2012 - 22:52

bcham (not verified)

Hello, just in case this helps... my flyshuttles do not roll in a straight but a curved path. both wheel axis are not parallel but a few degrees off. This forces the shuttle to stay against the reed (the beater is never static but constantly swinging back and forth) for safety reasons. Also noticed similar approach on some rollerless flyshuttle, it has an offcentered bottom middle groove producing unequal friction between each bottom surfaces (front and back). I have experienced a shuttle flying off its track a few times, and I now stop weaving whenever someone or a pet is standing or passing by the loom. Benoît
Thu, 06/07/2012 - 09:31

ReedGuy

The only time the beater swings is after the throw, no swinging while throwing a shot. The beater has a concave groove. Your shed also should help keep the flyshuttle on the beater. But an exiting flyshuttle is not avoidable, it just happens. My beater is near a window, so I just put up a sheet of hardwood ply in front of the shuttle box to save my window. This is my first fly shuttle and I call it a prototype. ;)

Wed, 09/05/2012 - 19:06

ReedGuy

Not yet made more. I will make another slightly shorter model this fall. I am also going to make a couple hand shuttles. I will not be making them to sell. Thanks for your interest. :)

Thu, 09/06/2012 - 00:51

Penn (not verified)

In terms of the tightening mechanism, did you engineer one yourself, or cannibalize another shuttle to get one?

And in terms of an end-feed hand shuttle (not fly), do you think one could be made by converting an existing regular side-feed shuttle?

Thu, 09/06/2012 - 05:57

ReedGuy

My own mechanism for tightening. It's not that sophisticated. You'd be surprised what spring wire, washers, insert nuts and screws can do. ;) I have seen some with just a series of eye hooks used.

To convert one from a side feed you would need enough holding wood on the forward end to set it up and on the far end as well for ballance. Most of the side feed ones probably don't have a lot of holding wood left. If you have a router and good chisels, just make one from a piece of closed grain wood that can be polished up smooth. The couple of hand shuttles I intend to make will be side fed, just to know how they perform. If neccessary I would make an end feed one if I decide that side feed ones aren't my style. :)

I like the end feed idea because nothing has to spin, the yarn just spools off.