Technical Guide: Barmag FK6-1000 Draw Texturing Machine (DTY)
 

How the FK6 1000 Works (Process & Mechanical Principles)
The FK6 1000 operates on the false twist texturing principle, integrating drawing and texturing in a continuous line:

Unwinding: POY packages are fed from a creel (stationary or rotary/Jumbo options) into the machine.

Pre heating / First Heater: Yarn passes through a primary heater (typically Dowtherm heated contact plates or HTI electrical high temperature heater) where it is heated to a temperature that allows molecular orientation and subsequent crimp setting. Heater lengths are typically 2.0–2.5 m depending on model variant.

Drawing: The yarn is drawn between godet rolls (feed rollers) to achieve the required elongation and orientation. Single drive godet units are used to ensure slip free transport and consistent tension.

False Twist Insertion: A friction based false twist unit (stack of ceramic/polymer discs) inserts twist upstream of the cooling zone. The twist is false because it is cancelled downstream, but the heat set helical crimp remains. Disc stacks can be configured for a wide denier range and different twist levels.

Cooling: A cooling rail/plate (approx. 1.1–2.1 m depending on configuration) solidifies the crimp structure before the twist is removed.

Second Heater (Heat Set): A secondary heater (typically ~1.46 m) further stabilizes the crimp and reducesTorque/shrinkage.

Take up (ATT): The finished DTY is wound using Oerlikon Barmag's Advanced Take up Technology (ATT), which provides precise package build, controlled traverse, and high doffing efficiency. 
The process is thermomechanical: heat plasticizes the filament, mechanical drawing orients the polymer chains, twist creates bulk, and cooling/second heating fixes the structure.

2.1 Spindle and Friction Unit Data
The false twist spindle is one of the critical components.
Typical characteristics:
High rotational speed friction discs 
Ceramic guides 
Precision bearings 
Replaceable friction elements 
A technical reference for Barmag FK6 machines reports friction spindle operating speeds in the range of approximately:
7,000–9,000 rpm
depending on application and configuration
3. Processable Fibers and Applications
3.1 Fibers

The FK6-1000 is mainly designed for:
Polyester (PET)
Examples:
PET POY → PET DTY 
Apparel yarns 
Industrial filament yarns 
Polyamide (Nylon)
Examples:
Nylon 6 
Nylon 6.6 
The FK6-1000 PA versions were specifically developed for polyamide texturing applications. 


3.2 End Uses of FK6-1000 Produced DTY
DTY produced on FK6-1000 machines is used in:
Apparel
Sportswear 
Activewear 
Knitted fabrics 
Hosiery 
Home Textiles
Curtains 
Upholstery fabrics 
Decorative textiles 
Industrial Applications
Technical fabrics 
Automotive textiles 
Specialty filament applications 
Texturing improves:
Soft hand 
Bulk 
Elastic recovery 
Thermal insulation characteristics 


4. Production Capacity and Productivity
Production capacity depends on:
Number of positions 
Yarn denier 
Draw ratio 
Machine speed 
Polymer type 
Operator settings

5. Critical Operational Notes for Textile Engineers
5.1 Yarn Quality Control Parameters
Important process parameters:
Yarn Tension
Incorrect tension causes:
Uneven crimp 
Package defects 
Variable dye uptake 
Modernized FK6 systems may use online tension monitoring systems such as Unitens. 



5.2 Heater Control
Engineers must monitor:
Heater temperature stability 
Heater cleanliness 
Yarn contact condition 
Residence time 
Temperature settings depend on:
Polymer type 
POY specification 
Yarn count 
Required DTY characteristics 

5.3 Friction Unit Maintenance
The friction unit is a critical maintenance area.
Regular checks:
Disc wear 
Bearing condition 
Alignment 
Yarn path cleanliness 
Vibration 
Bearing failures in Barmag friction spindle systems have been documented as a critical maintenance issue requiring monitoring. 


5.4 Yarn Guide and Ceramic Parts
Inspect:
Ceramic guides 
Yarn contact surfaces 
Wear marks 
Damaged guides can cause:
Filament breaks 
Hairiness 
Tension variation 

5.5 Drawing Adjustment
Correct adjustment of:
Feed roller speed 
Delivery roller speed 
Draw ratio 
is essential because it controls:
Elongation 
Tenacity 
Crimp properties 

For polyester DTY 150/48 (150 dtex, 48 filaments) on a Barmag FK6-1000, the normal operating speed depends on:
Machine generation (FK6-1000 M, V, PA, etc.) 
Friction unit type 
POY quality (e.g., 150/48 POY) 
Required DTY properties (tenacity, elongation, crimp) 
Heater configuration 
Draw ratio 
For a standard 150/48 PET DTY application, typical industrial speeds are:
For FK6-1000 / 150-48 DTY / 600 m/min / 240 spindles / 90% efficiency:2.8  tons/day


Production Comparison Example
Polyester DTY 150/48
Assumptions:
Yarn: 150 dtex / 48 filaments 
Speed: 650 m/min 
Efficiency: 90% 
Running time: 24 hours/day

 

Engineering Note
The 288-position FK6-1000 does not necessarily run faster than the 240-position machine. The productivity increase comes mainly from:
    More texturing positions 
    More parallel yarn ends 
    Similar process speed 
Oerlikon Barmag documented extension solutions allowing existing 216- and 240-position FK6-1000 machines to be expanded up to 288 positions by adding sections and related drives/supply systems.

(Engineering Note)
For purchasing evaluation of a used FK6-1000, the most important confirmation points are:
Exact model: FK6-1000 M / V / PA 
Year of manufacture 
Number of sections 
Number of working positions 
Heater type (single/double heater) 
Friction unit condition 
Unitens/tension control availability 
Actual yarn trial with 150/48 PET POY → DTY
 

♦ References

►https://www.barmag.com
► https://www.barmag.com

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