Optimizing Hackling Pin Density Based on Scutched Flax Length Array
Optimizing hackling pin density requires matching pin pitch progression directly to the scutched flax length array to maximize fine line yield while preventing fibre breakage.
Titanium Nitride Pin Coating
Surface Treatment
Combing machinery in flax mills requires highly durable components to withstand the constant abrasive contact of hard bast fibres. Applying a titanium nitride pin coating to the steel pins of the faller bars creates a hard, low-friction surface that resists wear. This modification extends the running time of the combing frame before the pins require replacement.
Material Benefit
Deposition of this ceramic layer is achieved through physical vapour deposition at high temperatures. The resulting golden-coloured titanium nitride pin coating provides high hardness and a low coefficient of friction. It prevents the sticky pectins on the flax fibres from adhering to the pin surface, which reduces the buildup of debris that can cause fibre damage.
Smooth pin surfaces allow the fibre bundles to slide freely without tearing.
Operational Life
Uncoated pins in high-throughput mills wear down quickly, losing their sharp profiles and causing drafting errors. By reducing wear, the titanium nitride pin coating maintains the precision of the combing action over millions of cycles. This consistency is essential for spinning mills running continuous shifts where frequent shut-downs for pin bar replacement would be too expensive.
This wear resistance is particularly beneficial when processing flax containing residual abrasive mineral particles from the field, as it prevents the premature rounding of the pin tips that leads to lost control over the short fibres.