The 4-point system is one of the most widely used methods of fabric inspection and grading in the textile industry. It relies on penalty points per 100 square yards to evaluate fabric quality. Therefore, for optimal results, we need to know the length and width of the inspected fabric rolls.
When it comes to knit fabric inspection, there are several methods of measuring its quality. However, among all other processes, most companies prefer to follow the 4-point system to determine knit fabric quality. Let us now discuss the procedure of measuring knit fabric quality as per the 4-point system.
Measuring Knit Fabric Quality With 4-Point System
Generally, in the case of woven fabric, the fabric length is mentioned on the fabric rolls tags. However, knit fabrics are sourced in weights, and suppliers don’t mention the length of the fabric. Therefore, while using 4-point software in knitted fabrics, inspectors find it hard to use the given formula for calculating penalty points. Therefore, to use a 4-point system in knitted fabric inspection, you will need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Measure Fabric Length
To inspect your fabric rolls according to the 4-point system, you must measure the fabric length first. Generally, the knitted fabrics come with the following specifications:
- Weight of the fabric roll in kilograms
- Fabric weight in grams per square meter (GSM)
- Fabric width in inches (Remember to measure open width for knitted fabric)
On coupling the specifications with the following formula, you can calculate the length of the fabrics.
Step 2: Convert Fabric Length Into Yards
Once you obtain the length of the fabrics, you will need to convert the fabric length into yards. To carry out the same, multiply fabric length by 1.09361
Step 3: Calculate The Total Penalty Points
After finding the fabric length in yards, follow the standard method of the 4-point system to calculate the penalty points. Use the following formula to calculate the penalty points per 100 square yards.
Winding Up
The process of fabric grading mainly has two functions:
- To determine the quality of the fabrics produced.
- To classify the material according to required standards depending on the end-use and consumer demands.
Therefore, after calculating the penalty points using the above method, the knit fabrics are classified into three levels of quality:
- First quality fabrics: Up to 40 points per 100 linear yards
- Second quality fabrics: 40 to 80 points per 100 linear yards
- Third quality fabrics: 80 or more points per 100 linear yards
In practical use, the 4-point system is the most straightforward and convenient method of fabric inspection and grading. Thus, it is the most widely used method in the textile industry.
Knitted Fabric Inspection And Grading With B- Tex
With years of industry experience, B-Tex Textile Machinery is a proficient inspection machine manufacturer skilled at designing specialized hi-tech inspection machines. We have introduced a range of knitted fabric inspection machines for checking delicate fabrics like knits, silk, elastic fabrics, etc. The feature-rich machinery can efficiently inspect the fabric rolls with minimum wastage and labor.
To enhance your grading process, B-Tex has also introduced an inspiration and grading system (IGS). It is designed as per the 4-point system of grading fabric quality. This system, coupled with the Italian design inspection machines, can be highly efficient in delivering the optimum results.
If you find this article useful and want to get a demo of our feature-rich machines, get in touch with us here.
