Definition
The needle carrier is the machine element of a textile machine that holds and guides the needles in a defined position, enabling them to perform their function — such as knitting, weaving, sewing, or needling — with precision. It forms the mechanical foundation for needle arrangement and transmits the drive motion uniformly to the needles. Depending on the machine type, the needle carrier may be designed as a needle cylinder, needle bed, needle bar, or needle beam. Its dimensional accuracy and material quality are key factors that determine the uniformity of the textile produced.
Use in the textile industry
Needle carriers are used in knitting machines (as needle cylinders or needle beds), raschel machines, stitch-bonding machines, and needlepunch nonwoven lines. In flat knitting and circular knitting, the needle groove in the carrier defines the needle pitch (gauge) and thus the achievable stitch density. In needlepunch machines, the needle carrier — typically designed as a needle board — holds a large number of felting needles and must withstand high dynamic loads caused by the rapid stroke motion.
Learn textile knowledge in context
You have just looked up a single technical term. In textil trainer, you learn how textile materials, processes, and contexts are connected.
The free learning platform teaches textile fundamentals step by step in interactive online courses. Each online course includes its own glossary with the most important terms of the respective topic. Across all courses, more than 600 textile terms with narrated explanations are available.
textil trainer is developed together with the Chair of Textile Technologies at Chemnitz University of Technology, chemmedia AG, and companies and educational institutions from the textile sector.