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EYM
Electronic Yarn Meter™
Patents Pending
 
Nancy's Knit Knacks is pleased to announce the introduction of the industry's first electronic yarn meter
Product Videos

The EYM is a commercial grade measurement tool capable of measuring the length of virtually any yarn at an extremely accurate rate. It is designed to be used with any ball winder or other tool capable of pulling yarn through the meter. You may even measure yarn by pulling it through by hand if so desired.
 
We know of no limitations to its use other than the maximum diameter of yarn  being measured should be less than 5/16". Ribbon yarn may be measured through the EYM.
 
Compatibility
This unit will work with any ball winder or other device that can pull yarn through it (even your hand!). But only the NKK Power Base (the standard Power Base) which has been sold since 2008 to our HDBW users will accept a connection from this meter and allow the meter to shut the Power Base off.

Our new Power Base Lite and Power Base Lite Plus will not connect to this Meter electrically, but can, like every other device mentioned above, be used with it.

If a user wants to ensure that their Power Base will connect to this new meter, they need to purchase the NKK Power Base (the standard Power Base) and not the Power Base Lite.

Measurement
The EYM Measures Yarn in both Yards and Meters. It will also allow you to convert length to weight so that you can measure out 1 ounce or 1 Lb. Please review the functional overview document which explains how this works.
 
Detailed Overview of how the EYM works
If you would like to review a detailed functional overview of the EYM, please click here to download a PDF.

 

EYM Module EYM Std Base EYM HDBW Base
HDBW Size Standard Size Height Adjust
EYM Module EYM Module Power Base Size
All 3 sizes Backlit LCD Clamping System
EYM & Ball Winder EYM & Power Base EYM & Royal
 
Versions
The unit is available in 3 versions (sizes). These sizes relate to the height adjustability and the table depth adjustment:

 

Standard - for use with Royal Ball Winder and for other basic use
HDBW - for use with our Heavy Duty Ball Winder
Power Base - for use with our Power Base and Ball Winder
 
 
Adjustability
Each EYM Model is designed to work with different types of Ball Winders and Swifts. From the smallest ball winder to the largest. The unit can be adjusted both in height and in table depth (in from the table's front edge). This places the EYM's yarn orifice (curly Q) at the correct position to prevent the addition of unintentional yarn tension.
 
In addition to the height and depth adjustments, the user can even rotate the EYM Module around the vertical 1" hardwood dowel giving the user a 3rd axis with which to make adjustments in the yarn path.
 
EYM Model Max. Height
from table surface		 Max. Table Depth from front edge of table
Standard 7.5" 4.5" fixed
HDBW 10" 8"
Power Base 14" 11"
Rotation 360  degrees
 
Custom Bases and Connections
We will consider making customized bases for customers upon request for a nominal charge. NKK also plans to adapt the EYM Module to other fiber equipment as well as for other industries. If interested in a custom mounting system, please email us
NKK plans to develop an add-on product that will be able to control non-NKK motorized equipment when using the meter. Call us if interested.
 
Accuracy of Measurement
The EYM utilizes a high tech electronic optical encoder system combined with a custom designed microprocessor controlled circuit card. The unit divides each inch of yarn into 28.4 equal segments and then performs its calculations to measure either yards, meters, or weight. At the maximum speed of the unit (up to 10 yds per second) under normal use, this means that over 11,000 data signals are interpreted by the computer every second.

The end result: 0.001% error rate for meters (that is 1 meter per 1,000 meters measured) and 0.003% error rate for yards (that is 3 yards per 1,000 yards measured). The reason that Metric measurements are more accurate is because there are 100 centimeters in a meter and only 36 inches in a yard. This finer degree of resolution for metric results in a more finely tuned measurement. When compared to mechanical meters under the best of circumstances (which have error rates of approx 5% or more) that means that the EYM measures from 17 to 50 times more accurately and much more consistently than the typical mechanical fishing meter based systems.

Accuracy also has much to do with the method by which the yarn drives the measurement wheel/pulley. In the fishing meter type systems, the yarn engages a very small amount of the pulley's surface (20-30 degrees of contact). In the EYM, the contact area is 180 degrees approx.. Furthermore, the EYM utilizes a large diameter drive wheel which has a soft foam rubber type surface which ensures that the yarn will not slip over the surface. Yarn slippage is the Achilles heel of the mechanical fishing meter systems and we made sure in our design of the EYM that yarn slippage would not occur.

The last element of measurement  accuracy has to do with the mechanical axle that both supports the structure and connects the drive wheel with the optical encoder. The EYM's drive shaft utilizes two ball bearing units to ensure trouble free and friction free rotation. This design does not add any significant drag or tension to the yarn while it is being measured.

Yarn Type
The EYM has a 5/16" diameter orifice on its yarn guides. As long as your yarn will fit through these openings, you will be able to measure it with the EYM. This includes ribbon yarns and other novelty yarns.
 
Yarn Direction
You may measure yarn in either direction through the EYM.
 
Power
The EYM utilizes standard 100-240 VAC 50-60 Hz power. This makes it capable of being used anywhere on the planet.  The unit will go into Sleep mode after 5 minutes of inactivity. The user can bring it out of sleep mode by simply pressing the Reset button.
 
Warranty
1 year limited warranty for both consumer and commercial users
 
 
Pricing and Ordering:
The retail prices for our Electronic Yarn Meter are as follows:
 
Model  Height*  Price Buy 
Standard  8" $235.00  
HDBW  10"  $250.00  
Power Base  14" $250.00  
       
*Height refers to height adjustment from table top


Bob's Commentary
With the EYM, you can do the following:
Measure yards in tenths of a yard (3.6" increments)
Measure meters in tenths of a meter (10 centimeter increments)
Measure* the weight  of your yarn in ounces (even hundredths of an ounce)
Measure* the weight of your yarn in grams
* Weight is measured by the "weight equivalency method." In this method, we take the user entered weight and length for the yarn and create a relationship between weight and length so as the unit measures length, it is also calculating weight. This is a Nancy's Knit Knacks' exclusive feature.

 

Enter a qty of yards or meters (or ounces or grams) that you want to wind into a ball and have the meter stop the ball winder at that point! This capability has never existed in the commercial or consumer market. It is as automated as it gets.

What about accuracy?

We break down each each rotation of the measuring wheel into 200 segments. Since the wheel is about 7 inches in circumference that means that we are measuring the yarn in .035" segments. Therefore, each segment is about 1/7 of a quarter inch. Plus we are doing it fast (at speeds up to about 15 MPH).

Our mounting stands allow the user to mount the meter right between their swift and ball winder. Gone are the days when the meter was at table level and the yarn had to dip down from the swift to go though the meter and then back up to the ball winder. With our stands, everything can be adjusted, height, depth and rotation.

Don't have one of our power bases to work with the meter? Don't worry, the meter's electronic tone will sound when the meter measures the qty that you want to measure.

How sturdy is the unit?  Will it hold up?

It has an aluminum housing for both strength and weight reduction.

Custom designed electronics are enclosed in the housing and fully grounded to guard against static issues.

Mechanical components include a custom designed shaft supported by ball bearing mounts and slip proof wheel surface that will not allow your yarn to slip over the wheel. Plus our innovative post mounting system used to control elevation of the meter head will amaze the engineers in your company/family.

Hardwood construction with stainless steel components and rock solid old-style American engineering provide you with a product that you can be proud of. We certainly are and we know that you will be very impressed with our invention.

 
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Bob's Commentary: This is the greatest meter in the fiber world. We have addressed every issue that existed in the mechanical meter market (we know, because we have sold more mechanical meters than any other company!).
Click here to see my comments.
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