By Sarah Stone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next time you pull on a pair of socks, you may have the Wilson College of Textiles to thank. The socks in NC State\u2019s new <\/span>Belltower Collection<\/span><\/a> are being made right here on campus with the <\/span>Zeis Textiles Extension<\/span><\/a>\u2019s (ZTE) sock robot.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt maybe doesn\u2019t look like a normal robot,\u201d ZTE Director Andre West says. \u201cBut it has all the normal robot parts to it, even though it\u2019s a different shape.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The robot arrived on campus early this year. West was first inspired to acquire the machine when he attended a five-week-long course on circular knitting equipment in China in 2019. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe came back with the idea of, \u2018How do we start getting involved in this sort of equipment?\u2019\u201d West says. \u201cSo the sock machine is an easy start.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using this automated circular knitting technology, the machine transforms yarn into a pair of customizable socks in just about five minutes. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the Belltower Collection sold at the bookstore, socks made at ZTE will also be given away at trade shows like <\/span>Techtextil<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n West brought the machine to Wilson College for more than just the promotional items, though. The robot also provides students with more opportunities for hands-on learning and experiences. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Graduate students Zoe Newman and Elizabeth Kirkwood have become the principal operators of the machine. The pair have taken the robot all the way from the initial programming stage through the troubleshooting and fine tuning to finished product. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re facing challenges that they\u2019re going to face later in life. Maybe not this, but it\u2019ll just be troubleshooting and designing,\u201d West says. \u201cThey may not appreciate it now, but I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll appreciate it later. Put some gray hairs on their head, but you know, it\u2019s really a good experience.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe textile program is sort of special in that way. That it\u2019s more hands-on than other programs,\u201d Newman adds. \u201cSo, we\u2019re working on the machines daily. If we\u2019re not working on them, we\u2019re studying how they work or their capabilities.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The machine has also resulted in additional opportunities for undergraduate students. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe had a project with the senior design group and <\/span>textile engineering<\/span><\/a>,\u201d Newman explains. \u201cAnd they were looking for a few different variations of socks with different yarns. So we were able to use the machine to help them with that project.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll be able to find Belltower Collection socks at NC State bookstores by late August. NC State bookstores created the Belltower Collection to celebrate the installation of bells in the university’s Memorial Belltower. Revenues from the trademarked brand help fund student scholarships. Adding the carillon of bells to the Belltower was made possible by a donation from 1981 College of Textiles alumnus Bill Henry and his wife Frances<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n With knitted koozies in the works, West thinks socks will be the first step in a larger partnership to provide NC State students, employees, alumni and friends with high quality, locally made commemorative gear. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Techtextil<\/a> is more than just a place to snag socks made by ZTE\u2019s new robot. The trade show serves as a hub for industry members across North America to learn about the latest in technical textiles and nonwovens. Since the show is held biannually in Raleigh, it\u2019s also a great educational and networking opportunity for Wilson College students. By Sarah Stone<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next time you pull on a pair of socks, you may have the Wilson College of Textiles to thank. The socks in NC State\u2019s new <\/span>Belltower Collection<\/span><\/a> are being made right here on campus with the <\/span>Zeis Textiles Extension<\/span><\/a>\u2019s (ZTE) sock robot.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt maybe doesn\u2019t look like a normal robot,\u201d ZTE Director Andre West says. \u201cBut it has all the normal robot parts to it, even though it\u2019s a different shape.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The robot arrived on campus early this year. West was first inspired to acquire the machine when he attended a five-week-long course on circular knitting equipment in China in 2019. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe came back with the idea of, \u2018How do we start getting involved in this sort of equipment?\u2019\u201d West says. \u201cSo the sock machine is an easy start.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using this automated circular knitting technology, the machine transforms yarn into a pair of customizable socks in just about five minutes. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the Belltower Collection sold at the bookstore, socks made at ZTE will also be given away at trade shows like <\/span>Techtextil<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n West brought the machine to Wilson College for more than just the promotional items, though. The robot also provides students with more opportunities for hands-on learning and experiences. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Graduate students Zoe Newman and Elizabeth Kirkwood have become the principal operators of the machine. The pair have taken the robot all the way from the initial programming stage through the troubleshooting and fine tuning to finished product. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re facing challenges that they\u2019re going to face later in life. Maybe not this, but it\u2019ll just be troubleshooting and designing,\u201d West says. \u201cThey may not appreciate it now, but I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll appreciate it later. Put some gray hairs on their head, but you know, it\u2019s really a good experience.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe textile program is sort of special in that way. That it\u2019s more hands-on than other programs,\u201d Newman adds. \u201cSo, we\u2019re working on the machines daily. If we\u2019re not working on them, we\u2019re studying how they work or their capabilities.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The machine has also resulted in additional opportunities for undergraduate students. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe had a project with the senior design group and <\/span>textile engineering<\/span><\/a>,\u201d Newman explains. \u201cAnd they were looking for a few different variations of socks with different yarns. So we were able to use the machine to help them with that project.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll be able to find Belltower Collection socks at NC State bookstores by late August. NC State bookstores created the Belltower Collection to celebrate the installation of bells in the university's Memorial Belltower. Revenues from the trademarked brand help fund student scholarships. Adding the carillon of bells to the Belltower was made possible by a donation from 1981 College of Textiles alumnus Bill Henry and his wife Frances<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s how it works: <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Techtextil Returning to Raleigh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Techtextil is scheduled for August 23 through 25 at the Raleigh Convention Center. NC State University and the Nonwovens Institute are proud industry partners. If you\u2019re interested, there\u2019s still time to register.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s how it works: <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n