1. STARFISH Version 6.5 Getting Started

2. Setting Up The Active Model
STARFISH works by building a model of your manufacturing environment.
You specify the manufacturing environment by:
Entering your machines into a database.
Making selections from option lists.
Entering values for certain parameters.

3. Setting Up The Active Model
Menu Bar
All program features are accessible from here.
Main Toolbar
Actions that are not specific to the Active Model.
Active Model Toolbar
Actions that change the Active Model.

4. Setting Up The Active Model
You can specify
up to nine different (or the same) fabric qualities
You can also specify
up to nine different (or the same) knitting machines

5. Setting Up The Active Model
The knitting specifications are summarised here
The finished fabric properties are displayed here

6. Entering Your Machines
To access your knitting machines database, select Edit > Machine Files from the Menu bar.
Or click on the Machines icon in the Main Toolbar.
Before you can select a knitting machine for use in a STARFISH model, it has to be entered into your machines database.

7. Knitting Machines Database
To enter a machine into the database, you simply click on “New” then enter your machine details in the Edit Boxes.
To save time, STARFISH will suggest some of the values, which you can accept or modify.

8. Knitting Machine Properties
Gauge (cut) from 5 to 40 npi
Diameter from 5 to 65 inches
Speed from 1 to 100 rpm
Feeders up to 4.5 per inch
STARFISH maintains strict compatibility between gauge, diameter and needles.
Default values minimise the labour of data entry. Unreasonable combinations of data are prevented.

9. Select From Option Lists
Option Lists are accessible from the Change menu
or from the Active Model Toolbar

10. Option Lists The most important options are concerned with:
Type of fabric (interlock, rib, jersey, etc.)
Type of yarn (ring, OE, single, two-ply)
Knitting machine (gauge, diameter, needles, etc.)
Wet processing (preparation, dyeing)
Depth of shade (process weight loss)
Calculation units (grams, ounces, cm, inches)
Performance targets (weight, shrinkage, etc.)

11. These options specify your manufacturing set-up.
Manufacturing System
These options specify your manufacturing set-up.
Fabric Type
Knitting Machines
Yarn Type
Yarn Count Values
Wet Process Type
Depth of Shade
Performance Targets
Trimming Allowance
Weight Mode

12. Select Fabric Type
Selecting a Fabric Type is the first step in setting up a new model
Note: Crosstuck fabrics are often known as piqué or lacoste.
See STARFISH Help for proper fabric definitions.

13. Select Knitting Machines
Select from your database
&
Place into your active model
Up to nine machines in any order.

14. Select Yarn Type All made from 100% cotton, knitting twist
Other yarn constructions, including some blends can be modelled by using the Calibration feature.
(see the “Special Features” presentation)

15. Enter Yarn Count Values
This is the way that you introduce a new fabric quality into your model
Yarn number can be from 5 to 100s cotton count
or equivalent in metric or tex systems

16. Wet Processing Options
The full range of commercial wet processing, from old fashioned jets and winches through modern jets and continuous processing, to open-width and tubular mercerising can be modelled.
Ten standard wet process options cover the typical range of process effects.
User-defined processes can be developed for exact modelling of particular processes, via the Calibration feature.

17. Select Wet Process User Defined Process
You can model your own process by using the Calibration feature.
(see the “Special Features” presentation)

18. Depth of Shade Options
The full range of dye shades is covered by eight standard options from white to extra full.
Each depth of shade is associated with a corresponding nominal process weight loss.
Actual net process weight loss can be adjusted via the Calibration feature to match mill experience (proper estimation methods are described - with examples - in STARFISH Help).

19. Select Depth of Shade
Nominal process weight loss can be calibrated if one of the Standards is not close enough.
Nominal process weight loss = percent net loss due to preparation and dyeing.

20. Performance Targets
You can specify the required performance targets for two of the finished fabric parameters.
For example:
Length and width shrinkages
Area weight and width
Width and course density
Length shrinkage and fabric width

21. Performance Target Values
You can then specify values for the chosen performance targets.
For example, if you choose Length & Width Shrinkage as performance targets, and you allocate values of 5% and 5%, then ...
Whenever you alter the manufacturing specification (yarn count, stitch length, wet process, etc.) STARFISH re-calculates the weight, width, etc. while shrinkages are held at 5% x 5%.

22. Select / Enter Target Performance
These are the parameters that STARFISH will attempt to maintain at your specified performance target values
Note: To save time in data entry, shrinkage is entered as a positive number. A negative indicates extension (growth).

23. Enter Trimming Allowance
If you have selected
“Open Width - Trimmed”
for your width unit, then this is the total amount that STARFISH will subtract to allow for e.g. trimming at the stenter.
You can utilise this feature to calculate the “useable width” for garment lay planning.

24. Select Weight Mode
Whenever you alter an option that will change the finished fabric area weight.
STARFISH re-calculates the weight according to your Weight Mode selection.
Either by maintaining a constant width or by adjusting both length and width so as to maintain similar levels of shrinkage.

25. Specification & Calculation Units
You can choose the units you like for nearly all parameters (and change them at any time).
For example:
Stitch length: mm, cm, inch
Area weight: gsm or oz/sq yd
Fabric width: cm or inch
Stitch density: Courses/cm or CPI

26. Specification & Calculation Units
These options allow you to specify your preferred units.
You can change any units any time.
STARFISH will immediately recalculate the values for any properties that are affected by the change.

27. Select Yarn Count Units

28. Select Stitch Length Units
The units applied to Course Length
are determined by those that you select for Stitch Length.

29. Select Tightness Factor Units
If you are not familiar with the Tightness Factor parameter it is worth checking up on it in the STARFISH Help.

30. Select Stitch Density Units
Cells are used for Crosstuck (piqué, lacoste) fabrics.
Check STARFISH Help for an explanation.

31. Select Area Weight Units
The units applied to Roll Weight and Lot Weight
are determined by those that you select for Area Weight.

32. Select Width Units

33. Select Yield Units
Yield is either weight per unit length or length per unit weight or area per unit weight (but not weight per unit area).

34. Output Displays
It’s as though you have carried out a series of fabric development trials ...
… and you’ve just got the complete set of test data back from the lab.
The knitting and finishing conditions, and the resulting fabric properties are displayed in several different ways.

35. Types of Output Displays
There are basically four types ...
View By Qualities
View By Machines
View Production Data
View Specification

36. View by Qualities
This is the default window. You use it to find the best fabric quality to give the required performance.
You cycle through the data for the same qualities knitted on the other machines simply by clicking on each machine in turn.
The knitting specs and the finished fabric properties are displayed, side by side, for each of the (up to 9) different fabric QUALITIES that you have specified, based on one of your selected knitting machines.

37. This is the window that you would use to develop a body-width range.
View by Machines
This is the window that you would use to develop a body-width range.
You cycle through the data for the other qualities knitted on the same machines simply by clicking on each quality in turn.
The knitting specs and the finished fabric properties are displayed, side by side, for each of the (up to 9) different knitting MACHINES that you have selected, based on one of your specified fabric qualities.

38. This is the window where the knitting productivity data are displayed.
View Production Data
This is the window where the knitting productivity data are displayed.
You cycle through the data for the other qualities knitted on the same machines simply by clicking on each quality in turn.
The production data and the length and weight of the finished fabric rolls are displayed, side by side, for each of the (up to 9) different MACHINES that you have selected, based on one of your specified fabric qualities.

39. View Specification
This is the window that summarises the knitting and finishing specifications for each quality.
You cycle through the data for the other qualities and machines simply by clicking on each in turn.
The knitting specification, the key production data, the percentage weight share of each yarn (if appropriate), and the finished fabric specification are displayed for one quality knitted on one machine.

40. Editing the Data Edit Boxes
You can change the value of any fabric property
(except fabric yield)
simply by typing the required value into the corresponding edit box.
or by clicking on the nudge buttons
STARFISH will calculate the consequences of this change and update the other fabric properties.

41. If you change the value of one of the knitting specifications.
Editing the Data
If you change the value of one of the knitting specifications.
STARFISH will re-calculate the finished fabric properties for the selected quality.
Whilst maintaining your chosen Target Performance at the required level.

42. Trial and Error Development
Using the STARFISH software is a lot faster, cheaper and more reliable than traditional methods of product development.
For example:
You can nudge the stitch length up or down in small increments, whilst holding the shrinkage constant.
2.862
STARFISH immediately updates the weight and width.
So you can quickly find out whether the required performance targets can be achieved with the chosen yarns and machines.

43. Faster, Cheaper, More Reliable
Faster - because each simulation takes only a few minutes of your time.
Cheaper - because you don’t have to buy unnecessary yarns, or knit, dye and finish unnecessary fabrics, or needlessly occupy valuable production resources.
More Reliable - because STARFISH is not affected by day to day variations in materials, production and laboratory testing.

44. The faster, cheaper, more reliable way of doing product development.
STARFISH Version 6.5
The faster, cheaper, more reliable
way of doing product development.