W. Duke Kimbrell Flex Factory: Prototype Lab

Lab Manager: Sam Koziarz

The W. Duke Kimbrell Flex Factory Prototype Lab provides services to entrepreneurs and established companies to fabricate textile products and prototype innovative ideas before bringing them to larger scale manufacturing, reducing the product development timeline and increasing speed to market with state of the art textile processing and cut and sew equipment.

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Equipment and Capabilities

Industrial Machines

A professional-grade Gerber Z1 Cutter, a high-precision automated cutting machine used for technical textiles and apparel manufacturing. The unit features a massive, tan-colored conveyorized cutting bed with a gray-and-yellow bridge assembly housing the digital cutting head. A primary control pedestal on the front left includes a digital touch-screen interface and a prominent red emergency stop button. In the background of the technical lab, other equipment like an embroidery machine and storage shelves are visible. — **Gerber Z1 Cutter**
with Contour Vision System and Biting Cutting Function

An automated fabric cutting system equipped with a contour vision system for precise cutting of printed or patterned materials. Its biting cutting function allows the machine to efficiently cut through multiple layers of textile materials with accuracy and consistency.

A professional wide-format digital printer, specifically a Mimaki model, actively printing a large-scale graphic onto a continuous roll of white fabric. The design features a repeating circular pink floral or mandala pattern. The printer has a long, black chassis with a blue control unit on the right side and an ink delivery system visible on the left. The machine is located in a technical lab or production facility with industrial rolling doors and storage shelving in the background. — **Mimaki Tx300P-1800MkII**
Dual-Ink System Textile Printer

This dual-ink printer offers two printing options: pigment-based inks for printing directly onto rolls of cellulosic fabric yardage, and sublimation inks for printing onto transfer paper, which can then be heat transferred onto synthetic fabrics.

A large, white, cylindrical TC²-style 3D body scanning booth used for precision garment sizing and body data collection. The unit features a silver-paneled curved entrance and a double-door exit system. It is positioned next to a computer workstation equipped with a black adjustable desk, a monitor displaying a login screen, and a rolling black chair, allowing a technician to manage the non-contact measurement process. — **Humanetics 3D Body Scanner**
Non-Contact Body Scanning & Fit Analysis

Captures a detailed three-dimensional representation of the human body using non-contact scanning technology. The resulting digital body model can be used to collect accurate body measurements and support digital product development, fit analysis, and garment design.

A specialized industrial Lonati 168N Seamless Toe circular knitting machine. — **Lonati GE Sock Machine**
Computerized Sock & Hosiery Knitting

An industrial knitting machine designed for the production of knitted socks and hosiery. It uses computerized knitting technology to create tubular garments with integrated shaping, allowing for efficient production of detailed and customized sock designs.

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Sewing Equipment

Lockstitch + Serger

**JUKI DDL-8700-7**
High-Speed Single-Needle Lockstitch Machine

A high-speed, single-needle lockstitch sewing machine designed for smooth, high-quality stitching across light to medium-weight fabrics. Equipped with an automatic thread trimmer and precise speed control, it provides consistent seam quality and reliable garment assembly.

A high-speed Juki DDL-5550N industrial single-needle lockstitch sewing machine, commonly used for joining fabric plies in apparel production. The machine features a clean, white-painted cast iron body with a large handwheel on the right and a stitch length adjustment dial. It is mounted to a white worktable positioned in front of a window, and a thread stand holding two large cones of black thread is attached to the rear of the machine frame. — **JUKI DDL-5550N**
High-Speed Lockstitch Sewing Machine

An industrial single-needle lockstitch machine designed for high-speed, reliable sewing on light to medium-weight materials. It delivers clean, consistent stitching and durability for standard garment construction, seam joining, and prototyping.

A close-up view of a Juki MO-6700DA Series industrial overlock (serger) sewing machine. The machine features a compact, cream-colored cast iron body with three prominent tension adjustment dials on the front, color-coded with red, yellow, and blue dots. It is equipped with a specialized needle plate and presser foot assembly for trimming and overcasting fabric edges simultaneously. The unit is mounted on a wooden sewing table in a well-lit studio, with a large window in the background. — **JUKI MO6704 (504 Overlock)**
High-Speed 3-Thread Industrial Serger

A high-speed 3-thread industrial serger designed for edging, trimming, and joining light to medium-weight fabrics. Utilizing the standard 504 overlock stitch, it delivers clean, professional edge finishes and durable seams for apparel construction and textile prototyping.

An industrial Juki MO-6700DA Series overlock sewing machine (specifically the MO-6716DA model) integrated into a white workstation, featuring four tension adjustment dials and a stainless steel needle plate for professional edge stitching. — **JUKI MO6716 (Stitch Type 516)**
High-Speed 5-Thread Safety Stitch Serger

An industrial 5-thread serger engineered for simultaneous seam joining, trimming, and edge-finishing. Utilizing Stitch Type 516 (combining a 3-thread overlock with a 2-thread chainstitch), it delivers maximum seam strength and durability for woven and knit garment assembly.

A Nawon USA industrial ultrasonic welding machine, specialized for creating high-strength, waterproof seams in synthetic textiles through high-frequency acoustic vibrations. The machine features a white cast-metal body with an integrated analog pressure gauge. A control box is mounted on the rear, equipped with three manual adjustment dials for Horn Rotation, Roller Speed, and Amplitude, as well as a digital speed meter. The unit is mounted on a white laboratory workbench in front of a Gerber Z1 Cutter. — Nawon Ultrasonic Lace Machine / Seam Welder

A Henderson industrial ultrasonic fabric welder, used for creating strong, waterproof seams without the use of needle or thread. The machine is white with blue pneumatic air lines connected to the welding head and features a digital touch-screen control unit mounted on the lower right leg. It sits on a tan worktable with a built-in measuring ruler along the front edge; a red protective cage and a metal stool are visible in the background of the laboratory setting. — Henderson MB9018B-IM Ultrasonic Seam Welder

A professional Chnki industrial seam sealing machine used for waterproofing seams on technical apparel and outdoor gear. The machine features a white L-shaped frame with an integrated digital touch-screen control panel. The sealing mechanism consists of a specialized hot-air nozzle and a teal-colored silicone pressure roller system. A yellow protective safety cage surrounds the heating element, and a manual pressure gauge is mounted on the lower right side of the unit. — CHNKI ZF2020-V9 Hot Air Seam Sealing Machine

A professional Yamato industrial sewing machine, specifically a flatbed interlock or coverstitch model, mounted on a wooden worktable. The machine features a complex thread tension assembly with five adjustment dials and a large overhead thread stand holding multiple spools of white, navy, and black thread. A flexible gooseneck lamp is attached to the left side, and a yellow measuring tape is adhered to the front edge of the table to assist with garment construction and quality control. — Yamato VC2700-156L/UT-A2 Coverstitch Sewing Machine with Panasonic MPMD21A10 Motor

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Specialty Sewing Equipment

**Yamato VC2700-156L/UT-A2**
Industrial Flatbed Interlock Coverstitch Machine

An industrial flatbed interlock and coverstitch machine capable of top and bottom coverstitch formations using 1, 2, or 3 needles with up to 5 threads. Designed for constructing high-stretch seams, applying elastics, and hemming t-shirts, sweaters, and athletic knitwear where flexibility and recovery are critical.

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3D Printers

A Bambu Lab P1P desktop 3D printer, part of the Bambu Lab P1 series, equipped with an Automatic Material System (AMS) mounted on top. The AMS contains four filament spools (black, red, white, and green), and two completed — **BAMBU LAB P1S WITH AMS**
High-Speed Multi-Material FDM 3D Printer

An enclosed, high-speed FDM 3D printer equipped with an Automatic Material System (AMS) enabling multi-color and multi-material printing with up to 4 spools simultaneously. Ideal for rapid prototyping, functional apparel hardware, flexible structure testing, and composite 3D-printed textile applications.

A high-resolution photo of a TRILAB DeltiQ 2 delta-style 3D printer, a precision machine produced by a Prusa Research company. The printer features a distinctive tall, triangular frame with three vertical rails and a circular magnetic print bed at the base. A black smartphone is mounted to the left pillar for remote monitoring or control. In the background, a — **TRILAB PRUSA DELTIQ 2**
Industrial Delta Kinematic FDM 3D Printer

An industrial Delta-kinematic FDM 3D printer engineered for fast, highly precise additive manufacturing with a static print bed and lightweight moving printhead. Featuring a cylindrical build area and advanced material compatibility—including flexible filaments—it is ideal for rapid prototyping, complex spatial geometries, and custom functional components in textile product development.

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Software

Tajima DG17 by Pulse
Embroidery Design & Digitizing Software

An industry-leading embroidery design and digitizing software tailored for Tajima machines. It offers advanced vector drawing tools, automatic stitch generation, precise lettering, and detailed editing capabilities to transform artwork into production-ready embroidery files.

**Mimaki RIP**
Digital Textile RIP & Color Management Software

A dedicated Raster Image Processor (RIP) software designed to manage print layouts, color profiles, and file processing for Mimaki digital textile printers. It converts digital graphics into precise machine instructions, ensuring accurate color reproduction, optimal ink density, and efficient production workflows.

**MSoft Software**
3D Body Measurement & Data Extraction Software

A dedicated 3D scanning software designed to process and analyze three-dimensional human body data. It automatically extracts precise anatomical measurements and generates digital body models to support fit analysis, pattern customization, and apparel product development.

**CLO3D**
3D Garment Design & Simulation Software

An intuitive 3D fashion design software that creates realistic virtual garment simulations from 2D flat patterns. It enables designers to evaluate fabric drape, refine fit in real time, and streamline the digital prototyping and apparel development process.

**Gerber AccuScan**
Automated Pattern Digitizing Software

An automated digitizing solution by Gerber Technology that rapidly converts hard paper patterns into precise 2D digital vector files. Utilizing high-resolution image processing, it streamlines pattern input, grading, and marker making for seamless integration into apparel CAD workflows.

**OPTITEX**
2D/3D CAD Pattern Making & Nesting Software

An integrated 2D and 3D CAD platform designed for pattern drafting, grading, marker making, and virtual garment simulation. It optimizes fabric utilization through intelligent nesting algorithms and accelerates the apparel product development lifecycle from initial concept to final production.

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W. Duke Kimbrell Flex Factory: Prototype Lab

Equipment and Capabilities

Industrial Machines

Sewing Equipment

Specialty Sewing Equipment

3D Printers

Software

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