Passap E6000 rebuilt and replaced console

Description

News 6.2.23
New project: yarn winder / cone winder

News 29.12.21
New Video (Jacquard Pattern - Process) , new software update

News 17.6.2021
The machine is now ready for knitting as you can see in the video. The engine control unit is redesigned. The software for the motor controller of the Electra 4600 is new.

2.8.2021:
- stl files uploaded
- I published the software for the knitting machine and the motor on github, https://github.com/IrenePassap/Passap-E6000-hacked-and-rebuilt

Let me know if you want to know more about the project .

Link to an other poject for those interested in Passap: https://e6000passap.weebly.com/

Details

Cone Winder Software uploaded on github (19.12.24)

I have built a cone winder (based on the concept of Schönflies Motion) because commercially available cone winders for hobby knitters often fail to wind yarn flawlessly. This can cause significant issues when using electronically controlled knitting machines with motors. To address this, I designed and built my own cone winder.

The cone winder has been operational since early 2023 and works perfectly. It supports cones and cylindrical spools of various sizes. However, it is still missing sensors to detect the left and right endpoints and a button to stop the motors manually.

The yarn I use measures normally between 15,000 meters to 30,000 meters per kilogram.

The project is still in progress.

The control software for the cone winder (using Bresenham's Line Algorithm) is now available on github: https://github.com/IrenePassap/Cone-Winder-Control-Software/tree/main

Yarn Winder - Cone Winder, new Video on youtube (6.2.23)

The XY axes move like the TBot (see the video below).

Video TBot

New Video on youtube (29.12.21)

The Video shows the setup, how I write a simple Jacquard technique in part 1. The second part shows how the machine knits and the swatch.

I will upload the new software version in the next few days on Github. I've revised the code and the GUI. I have also improved the error messages.

Passap E6000 is a computer-controlled knitting machine. It has two needle beds. Each individual needle on the front needle bed can be controlled via a console. The needles on the rear needle bed are controlled mechanically. I have always dreamed of being able to control the rear needles via the computer as well. I knew it was somehow possible but had no idea how. The essential idea came from Hackerspace Bamberg (https://www.hackerspace-bamberg.de/Passap_pfaff_e6000, https://github.com/knitty/firmware/tree/master/software/Knitty ). The hackers have exchanged all parts from the back-needle bed with those of a front needle bed. For the new rear needle bed, a second front lock has been rebuilt.

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Juni 2021 New Version

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Video and photos of the console, the motor controller unit and interface.

If you would like to find out more, just ask.

Same mounting as the original console

Back of the console

Rear lock

Motor, window for the frequency converter. On the left: Motor interface. Black cable on the top of the red enclosure is the USB connection to the console.

frequency converter

Mounting frequency converter

Motor interface. Owen made the design of the board according to the previous interface, thank you Owen, the interface looks now much nicer. The Arduino is now on this interface.

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Passap Electra 4600 rebuilt (2020)

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In the video below (2020) you can see the knitting machine and the motor Electra 4600 in action. More detailed information will follow over the next few weeks.

What is new?

The electronics of the Passap Electra 4600 motor have been replaced by a frequency converter, an interface and a controller. More project details will follow over the next few weeks. The latest version of the software will be published on Github. I hope this information will help you to realize your own project.

Electra 4600 connected to the frequency converter

I actually wanted to integrate the Electra 4600 engine in my project. Unfortunately the Electra 4600 engine had malfunctions. The control circuit board was damaged. We couldn't find out if more was broken....

Files

big yarn holder with bracket.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 5.72 MB - 08/02/2021 at 16:29

Download

Console.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 2.09 MB - 08/02/2021 at 16:24

Download

Console back part .stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 592.95 kB - 08/02/2021 at 16:21

Download

Console back.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 686.12 kB - 08/02/2021 at 16:21

Download

Controller.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 892.37 kB - 08/02/2021 at 16:15

Download

Discussions

David Livingstone wrote 05/25/2023 at 21:08

Hello Irene, I am new to this board and have a selfish interest in joining. My wife owns a Passap E-6000 and we occasionally encounter problems with the electronic components. The current problem is with the optical sensor in the front lock. We encountered error codes 200 and 207. It's most likely there is some issue with the optical sensor. Getting anyone to consider making board level repairs seems to be impossible. I think there would actually be many people interested in having repairs of this type made, so they could get their machines running again. I live in Toronto, Canada. I'm not sure where you're located, but can you provide any contacts that I could reach out to to help in this situation? Any advice would be most welcome! Thank you, David

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Jordan Graves wrote 06/21/2020 at 15:17

You're a genius!! Thank you for posting this, it's working beautifully on my front lock.

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Irene Wolf wrote 08/06/2020 at 19:16

Thanks, that's good to hear.

Regards Irene

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deonel2019 wrote 04/20/2020 at 14:07

Hi There Irene I am very knew to this whole project and to knitting my self! I am also trying to convert my E6000 to a full digital control interface! with the raspberry PI as you have done! is there a place where I can download the software or source code to the software interface?

Thank you

Jahne

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Irene Wolf wrote 08/06/2020 at 19:17

Yes, on github

Regards irene

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robert.beekhuijzen wrote 04/18/2020 at 09:16

Hello Irene,

Great Project! I have a E6000 myself (actually two) and you got me inspired to havea go at converting it agian.

Could you post you CAD files on your GitHub page? I have a E6000 that has suffered from time itself and could do with a few replacement parts. You CAD files could really help.

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Irene Wolf wrote 04/18/2020 at 12:38

Dear Robert

This will not solve youre problem. The STL is for the cover of the rebuilt machine and looks different from the original. In addition, the STL would have to be revised. It is not perfect.

I uploaded a file that shows what we measured, a graphic from Hackerspace Balmberg and the diagram Raspberry Pi 3 - (via USB) - Arduino - knitting machine
Cheers, Irene

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robert.beekhuijzen wrote 04/16/2020 at 12:52

Great Project! I've been looking at the Bamberg Project too, but reading your findings I'll try yours.

Would it be possible to put the stl files on your Github page? My Passap machines have suffered some damage..

SO with the files I could make one of the damaged handles whole again.

Thanks in advance

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SusanneBecker wrote 01/08/2020 at 12:23

Thank you for sharing this very interesting project with us! I do not understand how the machine is working after your hack. The console of the E6000 is used to "tell" the front bed which pattern and which technique to use. To create new patterns (or to imitate the patterns stored in the console) should be easy, but how can I tell the machine which technique to use? The overview of the techniques stored in the machine given in the manual is very incomplete. The console tells you how to change the settings on the lock while knitting, but this information in not given in the manual's overview of techniques. So how can I imitate the different techniques after the hack?

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Irene Wolf wrote 01/10/2020 at 19:07

Hello Susanne

On the flow chart diagram on the project page you can see that I am importing a technique file (.txt) from the project folder. This is a simple text file that contains instructions for knitting the pattern, such as

- new pattern row;

- lock setting AX, LK, N, etc .;

- knit where there are black squares;

- color change;

- rack; etc.

Check out the Phython Code on Github, the method def techArray ().

Of course, the problem can be solved in a number of ways. This is just one possible example.

Many passap techniques are simple. But you can only understand some of the original techniques by trying them out. And then observe which needles are selected and which instructions the console gives.

Cheers Irene

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K Kuehn wrote 07/20/2019 at 16:03

Are you familiar with the Kickstarter project called Kniterate? Any interest in a conversation on using your wealth of Passap e6000 knowledge towards the Kniterate?

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Irene Wolf wrote 07/20/2019 at 21:33

Yes I know the Kickstarter project Kniterate. I follow the development almost from the beginning. I thought about buying one at the beginning of the kickstart. Unfortunately, they do not deliver to Switzerland. That was one of the reasons why I rebuilt my machine.

Can you tell me who you are? What do you have to do with Kniterate?

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K Kuehn wrote 10/07/2019 at 15:48

I am Kathi Kuehn and live in England. My 'relationship' to the Kniterate is that I am Backer 22 of the original 25 Kickstarter funders. I've used knitting machines on/off since 1985. One day I realised there was a wealth of 'stitch data' within the Passap e6000 and wondered how/if it could be ported towards the Kniterate. The software development, in my opinion, has been lacking for a product now in production (but not yet shipped). The Kniterate team are committed to a propriatory software for their machine but initially only offering very basic stitches. Any questions I have asked are not normally detailed nor answered to any great satisfaction. It was out of frustration that I began to wonder what other options there might be. I am a sole person not associated with any institution. My background is design (Industrial) and I am now retired. But do designers really ever retire? I am looking to use the Kniterate initially to experiment. I have also been 'using' computers since 1982 but am not really a programmer though have studied this multiple times (it never sticks). Sorry for the delay in my response as I was not sure you would reply. Am sorry too for you that Kniterate would not ship to Switzerland! I hope to hear from you again.

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Martin Kloos wrote 03/15/2019 at 12:56

Thank you! I assumed the that the 3 legged things were transistors, but FETs make sense. And I understand the need for optocouplers. Thank you for adding the schematics. No hurry (from my part) though.

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Irene Wolf wrote 03/13/2019 at 19:19

The main difference is that I use two Arduino. Why? I already explained that in the text.

I use two Arduino M0. The two Arduino are galvanically separated by 4 optocouplers. The FET (right side) amplify the signals. Of course there are some resistors. The magnets of the knitting machine have their own power supply. The two Arduino are powered by the Raspberry Pi3. A GPIO of the Raspberry Pi serves as an interrupt (connection to the Arduino).

I will publish a schematics in the next days.

Cheers Irene

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Martin Kloos wrote 03/13/2019 at 11:04

Could you shed some light on what ic's & transistors are used? I'm trying to build on the hackerspace bamberg project, but I find it hard to understand what your electronics exactly do compared to hackerspace bamberg's version, which is very barebones. I assume it's probably to control the electromagnets, but I'm not sure. If you'd have the schematics that would be even better. Thank you in advance!

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Irene Wolf wrote 04/18/2020 at 12:27

Dear Martin

I have uploaded the file: Project Passap Rebuilt and Replaced Console, Schematics.

I hope this helps you further.

Cheers Irene

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Martin Kloos wrote 04/19/2020 at 08:51

Dear Irene,

It does help a lot. Thank you|

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Passap E6000 rebuilt and replaced console

Description

Details