Laser Cutting Technology on Olympic Garments
In the past year, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centennial Olympics was postponed for the first time. As of now, the current Tokyo Olympics are being held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. The Olympic Games is a sporting event that belongs to people all over the world. It is not only a stage for athletes to show their strength, but also an arena for showing technological equipment. This time, the Tokyo Olympics incorporated a lot of laser-cutting technology elements inside and outside the games. From Olympic clothing, digital signage, mascots, flags, and infrastructure, the “laser technics” is present everywhere. The use of laser cutting technology to assist the Olympic Games demonstrates the power of intelligent manufacturing.
Laser cutting has played a pivotal role in the production of Olympic clothing such as leotard, swimsuits and jerseys tracksuit. While an athlete’s strength, effort and talents ultimately land them a spot on the national team, individuality isn’t cast aside. You’ll notice that many athletes wear fashionable Olympic uniforms, whether their fashion is colorful, meaningful or even a little surprising. Laser cutting machine is ideal for cutting stretch fabrics and lightweight fabrics used in the production of Olympic garments. Take the figure skating costume as an example. It adds laser-cut and hollow elements to make the athletes gliding on the ice more beautiful, highlighting the spirit-like rhythm and agility.
Input the graphics on the computer into the laser control system, and the laser can accurately cut or engrave corresponding patterns on the fabric. At present, laser cutting has become one of the most common processing methods for small batches, multiple varieties and customized products in the apparel industry. The edge of the fabric cut by laser is smooth and burr-free, no subsequent processing is required, no damage to the surrounding fabric; good shaping effect, avoiding the problem of precision reduction caused by secondary trimming. The cutting quality of the laser at the corner is superior, and laser can complete the complicated tasks that the blade cutting can’t complete. The laser cutting process is simple and does not require a lot of manual operations. The technology has a long effective lifetime.
At the Tokyo Olympics in gymnastics, diving, swimming and athletics, as we have seen, many athletes have chosen to wear sublimation sportswear. Dye-sublimation apparel features crisp, neat and clear prints and designs and the colors are brighter. The ink is infused with the fabric and does not interfere with the quick drying and breathable properties of the fabric. Dye-sublimation provides vast opportunities for customization with practically no design limitations. Made from technical fabrics, the dye-sublimated jerseys are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, allowing players to show off their unique personalities while performing at their best in the competition. And cutting is one of the most important processes in the production of sublimation sportswear. The vision laser cutting machine developed and designed by goldenlaser is specially used for the printing contour recognition and cutting of sublimation textiles.
Goldenlaser’s state-of-art vision camera system is capable of scanning the material on the fly as it is delivered to the conveyor table, automatically creating a cut vector and then cutting the entire roll without operator intervention. With the click of a button, the printed textile loaded into the machine will be cut to a quality sealed edge. Goldenlaser’s vision laser cutting system makes it possible to automate the process of cutting printed fabrics, replacing traditional manual cutting. Laser cutting significantly improves cutting efficiency and precision.
In addition to the laser’s ability to be used for garment pattern cutting and printed fabric cutting, laser perforation is also a unique and advantageous application. During the game, dry and comfortable jerseys will help players to regulate their body temperature and thus enhance their performance on the field. The key parts of the jersey that are easy to rub against the skin to generate heat have laser-cut holes and well-designed mesh areas to increase air permeability and promote air flow on the skin surface. By adjusting the perspiration and keeping the body dry for a longer time, the players can feel more comfortable. Wearing laser perforated jerseys allows athletes a great performance on the field.
