AVL Looms HOME LOOM with Compu-Dobby III Quick reference guide

ASSEMBLY & OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
WIDTH: ____________________
BATCH #: ____________________
SERIAL #: ____________________
APRIL 2002
AVL Looms
3851 Morrow Lane #9
Chico, CA 95928-8305
530 893-4915
530 893-1372 fax #
www.avlusa.com
e: [e-mail]
AVL
HOME LOOM
with Compu-Dobby III

Page TOC-I
Figure Index FI-1
Introduction 1-1
• Preface 1-1
Home Loom Instructions 2-1
• Loom Set-Up 2-2
• Compu-Dobby III 2-7
• Serial Cable (RS-232) 2-9
• Power Cord 2-9
• Set-Up Your Computer 2-9
• Adjusting the Solenoids 2-10
Adjustments 3-1
• Warp Tension 3-1
• Beater Height 3-2
• Spring Levers 3-2
Warping the Plain Beam 4-1
• Creating Two Crosses 4-1
• Securing the Crosses 4-2
• Removing the Warp for the Warping Board 4-2
• Attaching the Raddle 4-2
• Winding the Apron and Attaching the Warp 4-2
• Sticks in the Raddle Cross 4-2
• Feeding the Raddle 4-2
• Preparing the Paper 4-4
• Winding the Warp 4-5
• Threading Cross 4-5
• Removing the Raddle 4-5
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page TOC-II
Warping the Sectional Beam 5-1
• Sectional Beam Calculation 5-1
• Loom Preparation 5-2
• Extension Cords 5-2
• Feeding the Spool Rack 5-2
• Adjusting the Tension Device 5-2
• Tension Box 5-2
• Tension Box Heddle Installation Instruction 5-3
• Threading the Tension Box 5-4
• Winding the Warp 5-5
• Adjusting the Size of the Section 5-6
• Counting Turns or Yardage 5-7
• Creating the Cross 5-8
• Inserting Sticks in the Treading Cross 5-8
• Readjusting the Tension 5-8
• Combining Plain and Sectional Warping 5-9
Threading, Sleying, and Tying On 6-1
• Preparation for Threading 6-1
• Heddle Preparation 6-2
• Threading the Harnesses 6-2
• Replacing the Beater and Sleying the Reed 6-2
• Tying onto the Apron 6-3
• Tying on to the Old Warp 6-4
Weaving Procedures 7-1
• Weaving 7-1
• Advancing the Cloth 7-1
• Threading Error 7-1
• Starting Weaving 7-2
• Sample Weaving 7-2
Maintenance and Lubrication 8-1
• Lubrication 8-1
• Finish 8-1
Troubleshooting Chart 9-1
Glossary 10-1

Page FI-1
Figure # Description Page #
1 Full Loom 2-1
2 Unfolding the Loom, #1 2-2
3 Unfolding the Loom, #2 2-3
4 Attaching the Brake Pedal 2-3
5 Routing the Brake Cable 2-4
6 Attaching the Warp Beam Crank 2-4
7 Sectional Beam Installation 2-5
8 Cutting the Heddles Apart 2-6
9 Dobby for Compu-Dobby III 2-7
9a Cables in Dobby Slide Plate Insert 2-7
9b Springs, Pulley, and Keeper 2-8
9c Treadle Cam, Pulley, and Axle 2-8
10 Compu-Dobby III Solenoid Box 2-10
11 Spring Lever System 2-11
12 Adjusting the Beater 3-2
14 Warping Board with Two Crosses 4-1
15 Feeding the Raddle 4-2
16 Using the Warp Beam Apron 4-3
17 Prepared Paper with Folded Edge 4-4
18 Winding on the Warp 4-5
19 Tension Box 5-4
20 Sectional Beam Extension Cords 5-5
21 Adjusting the Size of the Section 5-6
22 Creating Flat Layers 5-6
23 Attaching Yardage Counter to Tension Box 5-7
24 Threading Position 6-1
25 Warp Tying On 6-3
26 Using the Cloth Storage Apron 6-3
28 Insertion of a New Heddle 7-2
29 Lubrication Points 8-1
FIGURE INDEX

Page 1-1
AVL Looms was formed in 1977. Jim Ahrens, an experienced engineer/
designer/weaver, designed the original looms. He has been weaving,
designing, and building handweaving looms for over fifty years and is
considered by many weavers to be the greatest handloom designer in this
country.
Following in Mr. Ahrens’ legendary footsteps are the next generation of
designers at AVL. Our team is lead by Matt Taylor and Kim Mitchell.
Their combined imagination, ingenuity, and engineering/designing skills
make this group an unbeatable combination. The design team, along
with the other talented and qualified staff at AVL, work together to
produce the finest handweaving looms and accessories available in this
country and according to some of our customers, the world.
PREFACE
Learning to warp and weave on an AVL Home Loom with Compu-Dobby
III will be a rewarding experience for beginning and experienced weavers
alike. The efficiency of the design, along with the sturdy construction
and trouble-free operation will ensure your weaving time to be enjoy-
able.
Please read both the loom set-up and weaving sections, even if you are an
experienced weaver. There may be little hints and helps that are
contained on the following pages that you may not have come across
before.
If you are a beginning weaver, please refer to the glossary of terms on
page 12-1 for any unfamiliar words you encounter.
Enjoy your new loom ..... here we go!
INTRODUCTION

Page 2-1
HOME LOOM
INSTRUCTIONS
The AVL Home Loom with Compu-Dobby III has been assembled at the
AVL factory in either an eight harness configuration. It is nearly ready to
use as it comes from the box. Use the following instructions to assist you
in setting up your new loom.
FIGURE 1
FULL LOOM

Page 2-2
LOOM SET-UP
1.) Remove the loom from the shipping box by opening the flaps at
either end of the box. Slide the entire loom out of the box,
including the wooden packing base the loom is attached to.
2.) Remove all tape and packing materials from the loom.
3.) Remove accessory box(es) from the loom. If you received three
accessory boxes, one of them is a bench, which has assembly
instructions packed with it, the other is the Compu-Dobby III.
4.) Remove the loom from the wooden packing base.
5.) Release the folding legs at the rear of the loom (as shown in
Figure 2) by loosening the wing nut from the carriage bolt on
each side of the loom. Unfold the loom, holding the rear portion
in place by swinging up the wooden support arms at either side of
the loom and attaching them to each folding leg, using the same
carriage bolts that held the loom in the folded position. Notice
that there are slots in three positions on each support arm (as
shown in Figure 3). Any of the three positions may be used to
attach the loom at this point. This is an adjustable feature which
allows the loom to accommodate a large amount of warp build
up. With very long warps, weaving should start in the furthest
back position, gradually moving to the next two settings as the
warp is woven off. If you plan on using a raddle while warping
the loom, use the position shown in Figure 3.

Page 2-3
6.) As shown in Figure 4, attach the snap at the free end of the warp
beam brake cable to the steel ring at the end of the steel brake
lever. To make sure the brake cable is routed correctly, check it
against Figure 5.

Page 2-4
7.) If you have not already done so, open the accessory box that came
with the loom. Locate the warp beam crank and attach it to the
warp beam at the rear of the loom (as shown in Figure 6).
8.) Sectional beam tie-up. If you have ordered a sectional beam and
tension box, begin installation by locating the following parts (if
you haven’t ordered a sectional beam, proceed to step 15):
• sectional beam
• warp beam crank
• brake cable and tie-up
• tension box track
• extended folding leg supports (2)
• tension box hardware pack
• track support legs hardware pack
• track support legs (2)
• tension box

Page 2-5
9.) Remove the folding leg support arms saving the bolts, nuts, and
locking levers.
10.) Attach the extended support arms (see Figure 7) and secure to
the folding legs. (Be sure to insert the bolt from the outside,
through the support arms and castle side, then slip the locking
lever on as before. Next, screw on the nut).
11.) Secure one folding leg to each support arm with the washers and
nuts to the inside.
12.) Mount your tension box track to the top rear of the support arms
with the lengthwise groove facing up.
13.) Mount the warp beam crank to the drilled end of the sectional
beam axle (see Figure 6).
14.) Attach the brake cable. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, attach the
snap at the free end of the warp beam brake cable to the steel
ring at the end of the steel brake lever. To make sure the brake
cable is routed correctly, check it against Figure 5.
15.) At this point, your loom should be nearly ready for warping.
Make certain that you have unstrapped the beater and harness
frames from their shipping configuration. For looms equipped
with polyester heddles, continue to step #16. If your loom has
metal heddles, skip on to step #17.