Total #machineknitting #geekout with @AYABApparat! The latest news on the brother hack!

Today Chris and Andz came to ETIBerlin to test a few different brother knitting machines models (thanks Kristine for loaning the KH 965!) and talk about exciting new developments (some of which I can´t mention yet…).

It was a total geekout, so much fun and very informative!

AYAB and ETIBerlin can now confirm, that following Brother models work with the AYAB shield/hack:

KH 900 (plug needle pitch is 2,0, so you´ll need plug adapters…(we´re working on that!))

KH 910 , choose KH 910 version (duh!)

KH 930, choose KH 930 version (duh!)

KH 940, choose KH 930 version

KH 950 & kH 950i, choose KH 910 version

KH 965, choose KH 930 version (but some plugs have 2.0 needle pitch and need adapters…)

CK 35, choose KH 930 version (all plugs have needle pitch of 2.0, need adapters…)

I wish we could test a KH 270 but currently know no one who has one. If you have one or know someone who does please mail us! Also there seems to be a Topical/Brother Model out there with the model no of KH 920. We need you too!

Also if you have a Jones, Knitking/Compuknit, Defendi, Topical or Electroknit knitting machine with the above mentioned model numbers the AYAB shield should also work on them because they are actually brother machines but marketed under a different name in other countries. (Not sure if the same built machines made by Creative or KaRo offer computer knitting machines but if they do it should work…) (there are a lot of punchcard machines around with names such as Palié, K, Punch, Nana, Sister/Taitexma etc out there, but currently don´t know if they made it to the computer “phase” yet…)

Now that all hacks are working on my machines I can at last help to improve the AYAB GUI and kick out the kinks.  It probably would be a good idea to also write instructions especially when hitting on a problem.

I am especially happy about the new version of the shild that will have an extra plug to attach something like a motor or a tensioner (for long knits) and in my case to attach the sensors, motor and colour changer of the CK 35!  They borrowed all those parts from me and we´ll see how it develops.

I am sensing some crazy knit projects once the ck 35 is hacked. Watch out!

It was so nice that Nynne and Susanne came over to see the studio. Both took part in the basic machine knitting workshop at FabLab Berlin and hopefully will be helping in further developing the GUI and other projects…

@Naehbiene hangs out with @AYABApparat but to this day hasn´t knitted on a machine so I sat her down and gave her a crashcourse on my very first knitting machine. Also discovered that I had neglected my dear old KH 820 and gave it an extra dose of oil!

Andz tries out the new technique of using the L+MC button on the KH 930 carriage which diminishes floats by knitting both colours partially so oyu can then cut the floats afterwards. See pic for diffirence in floats: fairisle floats bottom, L floats top.

Motif space invaders! Neon Pink and Purple! And blue Lurex!