I've never actually seen a loom in real life, but I have read up. Where does the track or "race" of the beater go during operation? I know the flying shuttle is suppose to fly through the two sets of warp as they go up and down. Is the track itself under both warp sets or does it go in between the warp? If it is under the warp, does the shuttle fly over the track and across the lowest warp? Like it skids over each thread that is over the track? Thank you.

Comments

Thu, 10/03/2013 - 13:51

ReedGuy

The race is usually part of the bottom of the beater that carries the reed. The race itself is always under the warp. It is also inclined a bit, since the lower part of the shed is on an incline when using a countermarch or counter balance loom. The shuttle only passes through as the shed is opened. It often passes fast enough, like in a plain weave, that you may think it's passing though warp without a shed.

There is just one warp on a loom, but there can be two different warp yarns, one on a roller of it's own that come together as they pass through the heddles and the reed. Or if talking about double width weaving, you create two layers where the warp sett is doubled so that half the ends rise and half fall to make two layers of weave. In the two halves of warp, they separate one at a time for the shed opening. So sometimes the upper layer (or half) of warp ends rises with the lower shed, then the lower layer (other half) falls with the upper shed. You do not have two sheds open at once.

Thu, 10/03/2013 - 22:11

sandra.eberhar…

Go to YouTube and search for flying shuttle videos and other weaving videos.  If you see a few looms in operation, it will make more sense.