AVL Looms E-Lift User manual

Installation and User Manual
E-Lift™version 3
AVL Looms
2360 Park Avenue, Chico, CA 95928-6785 U.S.A
www.avllooms.com | [email protected]
530 893-4915 (ph) | 530 893-1372 (fax)

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents 2
INTRODUCTION 3
Support and Warranty 3
Safety 4
Package Contents 5
Tools 5
Definitions 2
The “Switch” 2
E-Lift Weaving Modes 2
Orientation 2
Acronyms 2
INSTALLING THE E-LIFT 7
A-Series, PDL & TDL Looms 7
SDL & V-Series Looms 13
OPERATING THE E-LIFT 19
MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENTS 21

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INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the E-Lift system. The E-Lift does all the hard work of opening
and closing the shed. You just press the switch and weave! The assistance this system provides
eliminates the physically tiring action of treadling, reducing leg strain and fatigue. The E-Lift even
enables weaving where it might otherwise be too difficult for persons with mobility issues.
Version 3 of AVL’s E-Lift is the first design using closed loop operation, which simplifies both
installation and operation of the E-Lift. No more crawling on the floor to set the starting position,
just press and hold the foot switch for optimal positioning.
Support and Warranty
Your new E-Lift is designed to provide years of dependable service. It comes with a lifetime of
phone and email support and a standard AVL one year warranty for the original owner. Want to
discuss the warranty in more detail, or get support for your AVL product? Please contact AVL at
530-893-4915 or by email to [email protected]m.

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BEFORE GETTING STARTED: PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE MANUAL BEFORE USING THE
LOOM.
Safety
Warnings:
EQUIPMENT SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR TEXTILE MANUFACTURING. IF THE
EQUIPMENT IS USED IN A MANNER NOT SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE
PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE EQUIPMENT MAY BE IMPAIRED.
ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD. DO NOT TAMPER WITH
ELECTRICAL WIRES OR OPERATE E-LIFT WITH SAFETY PANELS
OPENED OR REMOVED.
PINCH AND CRUSH HAZARD. DO NOT PLACE HANDS IN MOVING
MECHANISMS.
EQUIPMENT IS HEAVY. TO AVOID MUSCLE STRAIN OR INJURY,
USE PROPER LIFTING TECHNIQUES AND A HELPER.
USE OF CONDUCTIVE FIBER OR YARN ON OR AROUND THIS
EQUIPMENT WILL VOID WARRANTY AND MAY DAMAGE
EQUIPMENT.
THIS EQUIPMENT IS CLASSIFIED FOR HOME USE ONLY.

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Package Contents
We strive to package our products with care to ensure that they arrive intact and undamaged. Even
with our best efforts, issues can occur during shipping. It is important for you to inspect and verify
the completeness of your order as soon as it arrives. Please inspect the outer package for
damage, take pictures and immediately report any significant concerns to AVL. Once you are
ready to open the package, please carefully remove all contents from the packaging and verify that
all parts, hardware arrived. Your package should contain:
E-Lift system (1) with attached:
○Motor lifting cable (1) with clip retainer (1)
○Motor return cables with spring (1) with clip retainer (1)
Mounting blocks (2)
Cam-cylinder assemblies (2) secured in mounting order, including:
○Lifting cam-cylinder with dobby to cylinder lifting cable (1) & clip retainer (1)
○Lowering cam-cylinder with dobby to cylinder lifting cable assembly (1) & clip retainer (1).
NOTE: The dobby to lowering cylinder assembly consists of two cables and a small
extension spring joining the cables.
○Spacers –Each configuration uses different quantity and size of spacers which are
provided in mounting order.
○Stop collars - Each configuration uses different quantity and size of stop collars which are
provided in mounting order.
○Axle bushings (4) - Older looms (ONLY) used a ½” axle and require axle bushings in each
end of the cam-cylinders to adapt from their 5/8” diameter holes.
○½” stop collar (1) - Older looms (ONLY) use axle caps on the outside ends to retain the axle
in the side frame. You will be removing the rear or right side axle cap which is destructive to
the axle cap. The stop collar replaces the axle cap. An Allen wrench for the stop collar is
provide in the hardware pack.
Foot or hand switch with cord (as ordered) (1)
Power cord (1)
Hardware pack, includes:
○Mounting hardware for E-Lift and mounting blocks
○Allen wrench for ½” ID stop collar (where applicable)
○Allen wrench for 5/8” ID stop collar (where applicable)
Tools
○7/16” & 1/2" wrenches ○7/16” & 1/2” sockets with
wrench
○Phillips head screwdriver
○Needle nose pliers

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○Drill motor
○11/32”drill bit
○Tape measure
○Pencil ○Ferule crimping tool (Pre-
1988 PDL & TDL looms
only)
Definitions
The “Switch”
■An electrical switch selection is how the user communicates with the E-Lift.
■The standard configuration for the E-Lift includes a foot switch for operating the E-Lift.
There is also an option for a hand switch that is mounted to the beater top.
■Because the switches manage the same function, this document will simply refer to them
as the “switch”.
■There are two types of switch selection actions:
●Quick on/off selection (for normal weaving operation), or
●Press and hold selection (for Homing or changing Modes).
E-Lift Weaving Modes
■Double-shed Mode
●Double-shed mode is an operating mode where the ending movement is always
with an open shed, or if no harnesses are selected where the slide plate or dobby
arm are in the down position.
●Double-shed is the default Mode whenever the E-Lift is powered on.
●Double-shed is the most efficient Mode for weaving
■Single-shed Mode
●In Single-shed Mode operation, each switch selection moves the slide plate or
dobby arm to the next position.
●Single-shed can only be accessed by changing Modes.
●Single-shed is intended primarily for aiding in loom or warp diagnostics.
Orientation
For physical orientation while at the loom, all directional references are relative to the
sitting weaving position (i.e. the front of the loom).
Acronyms
FDL –Folding Dobby Loom; folding frame loom in production bet. 1981-2008
PDL –Production Dobby Loom; full frame loom in production bet. 1977-2002,
predecessor to the A-Series loom

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SDL –Studio Dobby Loom; small frame loom orig. 1992, shares basic frame with the V-
Series loom
TDL –Technical Dobby Loom; full frame loom in production bet. 1988-2002,
predecessor to the A-Series Loom
INSTALLING THE E-LIFT
Each loom type may have a different details for its installation procedure. Please refer to the
loom specific notes where identified in these instructions.
A-Series, PDL & TDL Looms
Note: If you are replacing an existing E-Lift 2 or 2+ steps 1a, 1e, 2 and 3 can be skipped. The E-
Lift 3 directly replaces the E-Lift 2 & 2+ with the additional step of removing the return spring
lever and spring from the rear treadle crossmember.
1. Preparing the loom:
a. Lightly mark in pencil each treadle pulley support cross member for correct
positioning, with reference to front/back and up/down, before removing them from the
loom. Also, lightly mark the dobby arm in pencil with an “R” for which hole is used
with the cable to the cam-cylinder, and with an “L” for which hole is used with the
cable to the left treadle.
b. Disconnect the treadle cables at the treadles. Remove the treadles, treadle support
mounting blocks and axles from the loom.
c. Disconnect both cables from the slide plate or dobby arm. On older looms (pre-
1988), dobby arm cables are crimped in place and must be cut to remove them. On
newer dobby arm-equipped looms, black plastic cable retainer buttons are used in
the dobby arm to retain the cables. The buttons are removed from the opposite side
as the cable entry hole by pushing the cable further into its entry hole. Retain the
buttons for later use.
d. Remove the cam-cylinder and single pulley from the loom by removing the rear stop
collar or axle cap, sliding the axle towards the front of the loom and partially out of
the rear vertical side frame member until the cam-cylinder and single pulley are free
to be removed. Remove them now along with the cables attached to the cam-
cylinder.
e. Remove the treadle pulley support cross member assembly from the loom. Once off
the loom, disassemble it by removing the treadle pulley axles and pulleys from the
cross members.
2. Drilling the cross members: With the cross members located on a workbench or other
suitable working surface, drill the holes required, as shown in Figure & Chart 1.

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Figure 1 –A-Series, PDL & TDL Treadle Pulley Support Cross Members (Front and
Rear) Holes
HOLE
NO.
CROSS
MEMBER
HOLE
SIZE
HOLE
ORIENTATION
DISTANCE FROM
EDGE
1
front
11/32”
vertical
12”
2
front
11/32”
vertical
15 1/4”
3
rear
11/32”
vertical
12”
4
rear
11/32”
vertical
15 1/4”
Chart 1 –A-Series, PDL & TDL Cross Member Hole Information
3. Reinstall the cross members, remembering to align them as before.
4. Mounting the E-Lift.
NOTE: There is some variation in mounting by loom age with the PDL.
a. Orient the E-Lift so that the power switch faces to the rear of the loom and the round
switch receptacle faces the front of the loom.

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b. Position the E-Lift under the treadle pulley support cross members to align the holes
in the E-Lift mounting plate with Holes 1, 2, 3, & 4.
c. The Motor Box is heavy. It is recommended that two people lift the E-Lift into place
while a 3rd person installs the mounting blocks and hardware. Or, use 2 pieces of
2”Tx4”Wx~6-12”L placed on edge under the bottom of the E-Lift housing to elevate it
into position while getting the bolts and blocks in place.
d. All Looms, except for pre-1988 Production Dobby Looms:
i. Insert one 5/16-18” x 6 1/2” hex bolt and flat washer into the #s 1, 2, 3 & 4
holes from the top down, letting them hang with the exposed ends pointing to
the floor.
ii. Insert a mounting block onto a set of bolts in line with the cross member,
engage the bolts in the corresponding holes in the E-Lift mounting plate, and
then loosely install a flat washer, lock washer and hex nut on each hex bolt.
iii. Repeat with the other set of bolts, adding the mounting block, E-Lift and
remaining flat washers, lock washers and hex nuts.
iv. Tighten the mounting hardware.
e. Pre-1988 Production Dobby Looms:
i. The above procedure applies to the front 2 mounting holes and mounting block.
ii. Due to narrower dimensions of the cross member spacing, the rear mounting
on the E-Lift is closer to the front mounting. The rear mounting hex bolts are
screwed directly into threaded holes in the top of the E-Lift top plate.
iii. Ensure that the lock washer and flat washer are applied to the bolt head side of
the rear hex bolts.
5. Installing the cam-cylinders and coated steel cables:
a. Installing cam-cylinders –E-Lift 3 comes with two cam-cylinders, one for lifting
harnesses and one for lower harnesses.
i. Measure the diameter of your cam-cylinder axle. If it is ½” you will use 4
bushings inserted into each side of each new cam-cylinder in order to match
the axle sizing. Otherwise, omit the 4 bushings in the package.
ii. Find the configuration for your loom in the following Figure 3 images. Slide the
“lifting” cam-cylinder, “lowering” cam-cylinder, spacers and stop collars onto the
axle as indicated for your loom’s configuration. Do not tighten the stop collars.
iii. Slide the axle back into place in the rear vertical slide frame member and
secure with a stop collar.
b. Aligning the cam-cylinders –The cylinder portion of each cam-cylinder is designed
with a length to establish a direct route for its cables with as little angle as possible.
i. Before alignment, lubricating the cam-cylinder axle is recommended. Beeswax
is a long-lasting lubricant that is rubbed directly onto the axle under where the
cam-cylinders will operate. A dry, clear, spray Teflon or Silicone lubricant is
also suitable, though it provides less longevity.
ii. Align the lifting cam cable path by line of sight with the left side of the E-Lift
motor pulley. The cable should be straight on between the cam and motor
pulley with minimal angle.

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iii. Align the lowering cam cable path by line of sight with the right side of the small
stand-off pulley mounted to the top of the E-Lift plate. This is the path of the
motor lifting cable and it should have minimal angle.
iv. Move the stop collars to lightly sandwich each cam-cylinder, leaving a slight
gap between the stop collars and the cam-cylinders to avoid pinching. Tighten
the set screws in the stop collars to lock them in place. NOTE: Pinching the
cam-cylinders between the stop collars can create too much resistance with the
cam-cylinder rotation and result in E-Lift motor stalls.
Fig. 2a –E-Lift Motor Double Pulley Cables (right side view)
Note: In this image the lower cable attaches to the lifting cylinder. The upper cable attaches to the
lowering cylinder.
Fig. 2b –E-Lift Cable Routing (rear view) Fig. 2c –E-Lift Cable Routing (front view)