spinning

spin (one) a line

To tell a lie or only part of the truth in order to convince one of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a line about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight.See also: line, spin

spin in (one's) grave

To (hypothetically) show enormous anger, disfavor, or regret for someone's actions or something that happens after one has died. That is, if someone were still alive, they would be greatly upset, angered, or disgusted by what has happened. I can't believe you're using our employees' pension payments to prop up a Ponzi scheme. The founder of this once-great company would be spinning in his grave to see its directors stoop so low. Your poor mother would spin in her grave if she heard the horrible things you were saying about your sister. I can't believe you wrecked your grandfather's prized truck. That's enough to make him spin in his grave!See also: grave, spin

spin off

1. verb To create or derive something from a larger or original thing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "off." I heard they're spinning another show off from the political drama that will focus on the two main journalists and their relationship.2. verb For a company to separate from one of its divisions or holdings through sale, reorganization, or other means. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "off." Only two years after purchasing it, the company has decided to spin off its VR division.3. noun Something created or derived from a larger or original thing. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Because it has become much more popular than the original, not many people know that this series is actually a spin-off.See also: off, spin

spin out

1. Of a car, to lose control and begin spinning. We spun out when we hit that patch of ice on the turn, but thankfully we didn't crash into anything.2. To lengthen or draw out; to prolong. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "out." Why does the manager always spin these meetings out for such a long time? We've heard most of this already! The attorneys will try to spin out the appeals process for months if not years.See also: out, spin

spin (one's) wheels

To waste one's time or energy idly or frivolously; to neither progress nor regress, but remain in a fixed, neutral position. They kept me on to manage what's left of this division, but to be honest, I've just been spinning my wheels here for the last couple of years. We haven't been able to do anything new until more funding comes in, so the project is just spinning its wheels for the moment.See also: spin, wheel

have (an amount of) plates spinning

To have a number of different activities in progress; to deal with or oversee a several different things at once. Rather than focusing on a single project, Tara prefers to have a number of plates spinning at once. I'm not surprised he's so burnt out—he had way too many plates spinning at the same time. You can't have all these plates spinning by yourself and expect to stay successful for long—you need to delegate some of these tasks to lower management.See also: amount, have, plate, spinning

keep (an amount of) plates spinning

To have a number of different activities in progress; to deal with or oversee a several different things at once. Rather than focusing on a single project, Tara prefers to keep a number of plates spinning at once. I'm not surprised he's so burnt out—he was keeping way too many plates spinning at the same time. You can't keep all these plates spinning by yourself and expect to stay successful for long—you need to delegate some of these tasks to lower management.See also: amount, keep, plate, spinning

spin (one) a yarn

To tell a lie or only part of the truth in order to convince one of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a yarn about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight. I suspect he's just spinning a yarn about where all that money came from.See also: spin, yarn

spin (one) a story

To tell a lie or only part of the truth in order to convince one of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a story about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight. I suspect he's just spinning a story about where all that money came from.See also: spin, story

spin on (one's) heels

To suddenly leave or depart. After walking in on an obviously private conversation, I spun on my heel and stepped right back out of the room. Several high-profile sponsors are spinning on their heels following the athlete's controversial statements.See also: heel, on, spin

spin (one) a tale

To tell a lie or fictionalized version of the truth in order to convince someone of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a tale about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight. I suspect he's just spinning a tale about where all that money came from.See also: spin, tale

spin around

1. To turn rapidly around in the opposite direction. I spun around when I though I heard my name. The police car spun around and turned on its siren to begin pursuing the van that ran the red light.2. To cause someone or something to turn rapidly around in the opposite direction. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "around." She had to spin the motorboat around and started heading back to shore. I had to spin the toddler around to keep him from walking down the steps.3. To turn around in circles very rapidly. The child spun around and collapsed on the ground laughing from her dizziness. The car began spinning around in the parking lot, leaving circles of tire tracks on the pavement.4. To cause someone or something to turn around in circles very rapidly. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "around." I'll put this blindfold on you and spin you around, and then you try to hit the piñata with this stick. He spun the dial around until the tumblers of the lock clicked into place.5. To visit some place for a brief period of time or for a particular purpose. I need to spin around the office to pick up some paperwork. Why don't you spin around on Saturday for dinner?See also: around, spin

spin out of control

1. To spin or move around wildly or without the capacity of being controlled. After the second engine went dead, the plane started spinning out of control as it plummeted to the ground. She cranked the mechanical bull up to its maximum speed, and it started to spin out of control.2. To continue getting worse, more erratic, or more unmanageable. With no job and a pile of debt, it just felt like my life was spinning out of control. You're the project manager—it's your job to make sure this project doesn't spin out of control.See also: control, of, out, spin

spin around

1. to turn around to face a different direction. Jill spun around to face her accuser. Todd spun around in his chair so he could see who was talking to him. 2. to rotate, possibly a number of times. The propellers spun around and soon the old plane began to taxi down the runway. The merry-go-round spun around at a moderate speed.See also: around, spin

spin off

[for something] to part and fly away from something that is spinning; [for something] to detach or break loose from something. The blade of the lawn mower spun off, but fortunately no one was injured. The rusted-on nut spun off easily after I got it loosened.See also: off, spin

spin out

[for a vehicle] to go out of control, spinning. You nearly spun out on that last turn! Cars were spinning out all over the highway when the ice storm hit.See also: out, spin

spin something off

1. Lit. [for something rotating] to release a part that flies away. The propeller spun one of its blades off and then fell apart all together. It spun off one of its blades. 2. Fig. [for a business] to divest itself of one of its subparts. The large company spun one of its smaller divisions off. It spun off a subsidiary and used the cash to pay down its debt. 3. Fig. [for an enterprise] to produce useful or profitable side effects or products. We will be able to spin off a number of additional products. The development of this product will allow us to spin off dozens of smaller, innovative products for years to come.See also: off, spin

spin something out

to prolong something. Was there really any need to spin the whole process out so long? Why did they spin out the graduation ceremony for such a long time?See also: out, spin

spin off

Derive or produce from something else, especially a small part from a larger whole. For example, The corporation decided to spin off the automobile parts division, or Her column was spun off from her book on this subject. The expression transfers the throwing off by centrifugal force, as in spinning, to other enterprises. [Mid-1900s] See also: off, spin

spin out

1. Protract or prolong, as in They spun out the negotiations over a period of months. This idiom alludes to drawing out a thread by spinning. [c. 1600] 2. Rotate out of control, as in The car spun out and crashed into the store window. [Mid-1900s] See also: out, spin

keep all the plates spinning

If you keep all the plates spinning you deal successfully with several things at once. I like doing different things, keeping all the plates spinning at the same time. Note: This expression is used in many other structures connected with managing to do several things at once. He already has enough plates spinning — consultancies, newspaper columns, not to mention four restaurants — to keep him in London. When you have to keep as many plates spinning as she does, you know something is sometimes going to crash. Note: This expression comes from the idea of the circus act where a large number of plates are kept spinning on tall sticks. See also: all, keep, plate, spinning

spin off

v. To derive something, such as a company or product, from some source: The television network decided to spin a new show off from its popular comedy series. The media conglomerate spun off its entertainment division. See also: off, spin

spin out

v. To rotate out of control, as a skidding car leaving a roadway: The car spun out on the ice and crashed into the ditch.See also: out, spin

spinning

spinning,

the drawing out, twisting, and winding of fibers into a continuous thread or yarn. From antiquity until the Industrial Revolution, spinning was a household industry. The roughly carded fiber was at first held in one hand and drawn out and twisted by the other hand. The earliest tools were the distaff, a stick on which the fiber was wrapped, and the spindle, a shorter, tapering stick notched at one end and weighted by the wharve or whorl (a disk of stone or clay). The spindle was twirled to twist the thread, which was then wound on it. With these simple tools were spun extremely fine yarns. In India the delicate threads for the famed Dacca muslin were produced by revolving needle-thin pieces of bamboo in a coconut shell. The primitive Gurkha wheel was used to spin coarse yarns. In Europe from the 14th to the 16th cent. the distaff and spindle were gradually superseded by the spinning wheel. It consisted of a spindle set in a frame and revolved by a driving belt passing over a wheel. The great, or wool, wheel, revolving the spindle directly, then by a pulley, twisted the thread; it was then stopped and revolved in the opposite direction to back off the spun yarn, which was then wound on the spindle. The flax, or Saxony, wheel—a more elaborate mechanism operated by a treadle—drew, twisted, and wound the yarn with a continuous motion suited to flax, wool, or cotton. In England improvements of the loom in the 18th cent., increasing the demand for yarn, stimulated inventions that revolutionized spinning. John Wyatt suggested the use of rollers to attenuate the yarn, a process patented in 1738 by his partner, Lewis Paul. James Hargreaves invented c.1765 the spinning jenny, a frame capable of spinning from 8 to 11 threads at once. The softly twisted yarns were not suitable for use as warp threads, but in 1769, Richard Arkwright brought out his frame, which by means of successive pairs of rollers, each revolving faster than the preceding pair, attenuated the yarn and twisted and wound it on bobbins in a continuous action. Operated at first by horse or mule power, later by water power, and still later by steam, spinning rapidly became a factory enterprise. In 1779, Samuel Crompton, combining the best features of the jenny and of Arkwright's frame, invented the mule spinning frame, forerunner of the modern self-acting mule. Because of its intermittent action, the mule is used for fine or delicate yarns. For the mass production of coarser yarns, the ring frame, an elaboration of Arkwright's machine, invented by John Thorp c.1828, draws, twists, and winds the thread in one rapid, continuous operation.

Spinning

the technological processes necessary for producing from relatively short fibers continuous yarn used in the manufacture of such textile products as woven fabrics, knitwear, curtains, nets, twine, thread, and rope.

Various types of fiber can be spun. Hence, there is cotton spinning, wool spinning, flax spinning, and so on. In preparation for spinning, the fiber is opened and cleaned (scutched). The fibers are then formed into a sliver, from which the roving is produced after drawing out (drafting) and twisting. Yarn is produced from the roving or sliver by drafting or separation, followed by doubling and twisting.

Hand spinning has been known since the Late Neolithic. It was practiced among almost all peoples, with the exception of the peoples of the Far North, where fur garments were worn. The oldest spinning materials were wool, flax, hemp, and—in some regions—nettle fibers. Cotton was used in ancient India. The earliest spinning method consisted of using the fingers to form small slivers and the palms to twist the slivers in an upright position or on the knees.

The first spinning implements were hand combs and hand spindles (for twisting). The fibers were fastened to a distaff having a bench or were spun directly from the comb. Distaffs and small spindle weights dating from the second millennium B.C. have been excavated in the USSR. Of major importance in the development of hand spinning was the invention of a distaff with a spindle driven by a rotating wheel. Also significant was the invention of a spinning wheel having a spindle with a flyer, which made it possible to twist and wind the yarn simultaneously. Treadle-driven spinning wheels appeared in Europe in the 15th century.

Machine, or frame, spinning appeared in the mid-18th century. In 1738 a continuous-action spinning machine with a drafting device was patented in Great Britain by L. Paul. The machine was capable of drawing out, twisting, and winding yarn. A carding machine was built in 1748. In 1765, J. Hargreaves designed a self-acting spinning frame (spinning jenny) on which sections of yarn of a specified length were produced and then wound. Hargreaves’ machine was improved between 1772 and 1779 by C. Wood and S. Crompton and became known as the mule or spinning mule. An automatic intermittent-action spinning machine was designed in the period 1823–30, and a continuous-action ring spinning frame was produced in 1870. The combing machine was invented by J. Heilmann of France in 1845.

In Russia, R. Glinkov organized a flax-spinning mill in Serpeisk in 1760. He installed machine-driven multispindled spinning frames and combing machines of his own design. In 1799 a cotton-spinning mill (Aleksandrov Manufactory) went into operation near St. Petersburg. Two-zone high drafting systems with a strengthener were put into production at the mill in 1833.

By the middle of the 20th century continuous-action ring spinning frames had replaced the less productive and more complex intermittent-action machines (mules). High-draft and superhigh-draft spinning systems had also been developed. New types of opening-scutching units and combing machines were put into use, and ring-spinning and roving spindles had been perfected.

Three basic stages are distingushed in spinning: (1) preparation of the fibers and the formation of slivers, (2) preparatory spinning, that is, the production of roving, and (3) spinning, that is, the formation of yarn. In some cases, the first two stages are combined, or the second stage is eliminated, with the yarn being produced directly from the sliver.

The preparation of fiber for spinning begins with the opening of the compressed raw fiber by means of needles, pins, teeth, or other working components of the feeders, looseners, openers, and other machines. Impurities are removed from the fibers by scutching machines; the fibers may also be cleaned by aerodynamic and electropneumatic methods. Opening and cleaning usually are done together. Scutching is the basic process in the preparation of wool and flax fibers; the fibrous mass is opened and cleaned simultaneously.

Fibers are blended together to produce a uniform result, that is, to give the fabric uniform properties. Organized blending methods (floor blending, sandwich blending, streamlined blending) or random blending methods (arrangement of the fibers as a result of agitation) are used. Fibers are blended in special blending machines; random blending is sometimes done in opening machines as an accompanying process.

Opening, scutching, and blending machines are often combined, forming, for example, an opening-scutching unit in cotton spinning. In flax and wool spinning the three machines are part of an assembly line.

After cleaning and blending, the fiber is carded to separate the fibers and to remove fine and cohesive impurities and defects. There are two basic carding methods: carding proper, by which the fibers are subjected to the action of the needles or teeth of the working members of a flat or roller card, and combing, which is done on a combing machine.

Carding produces a thin layer of slightly straightened and somewhat parallel fibers; the same carding machine converts the fibers into slivers. Longer fibers that are straighter and more parallel are obtained after combing.

Fiber preparation is completed on a drawing frame, which attenuates the sliver to a certain thickness and then doubles it. During the drawing-out process, which is usually carried out on a mechanical drafting device, the sliver is thinned as a result of fiber displacement, and the fibers are straightened, separated, and made parallel. In the doubling process, separate sections of the slivers are folded together in many different combinations, which determine the uniformity of the yarn. The drawing-out and doubling processes are repeated two or three times in order to straighten and blend the fibers properly. Uniform sliver thickness is maintained most effectively by means of an automatic regulator, which changes the size of the draft in relation to the thickness of the sliver fed into the drafting device.

Spinning directly from sliver on ring frames never became popular, since the necessary drafting devices are so complex. Therefore, roving was produced from sliver in the preparatory spinning stage. A roving frame is used to draw out and twist or double the sliver and to wind the roving onto a bobbin. Twisting, which imparts the necessary strength to the roving, is accomplished by a flyer spindle. The twist is represented by the formula T = n_s/v_r where T = twist, n_s = spindle rotation speed, and v_r = the delivery speed of roving from the drafting device. In wool production, the process of doubling is done on roving frames.

In the last stage of spinning the roving is drawn out in the drafting device to the desired fineness and is twisted into yarn, which is formed into packages or cops. The twisting and winding of yarn are performed by a mechanism consisting of a spindle, a ring, and a traveler.

Particularly promising are spindleless spinning methods, which increase production twofold or threefold. The twisting and winding processes are done by independent working members. Several types of spindleless spinning methods are distinguished: pneumatic, vortical, and electromechanical.

In pneumatic spinning the separated fibers are fed by a jet of air into a rapidly rotating chamber, where they are centrifuged against the collecting surface of the chamber. A small sliver is formed and wound onto a bobbin. The yarn is twisted by the rotation of the chamber.

Spindleless self-twisting spinning is used in the production of worsted yarn. To form self-twisted yarn, the roving or sliver is drawn out in a drafting device, and reverse twisting of the small slivers is performed by a twisting mechanism. Self-twisting occurs when two slivers having periodically changing twists are united. The final step involves winding the yarn.

There are several spinning methods, which differ from each other mainly in the type of carding procedure used. The selection of a particular method is determined by the type of fiber being processed and the desired properties of the spun yarn.

Card spinning is used in the production of carded yarn of medium or high linear density from uniform medium-length fibers (medium-fiber cotton, chemical fibers, short-fiber flax, and tow).

Card and comb spinning is used in the production of combed yarn of low or medium density from long, relatively uniform fibers and blends (long-fiber cotton, wool of uniform length, flax tow, chemical fibers, silk wastes). The combing system is used without carding to produce yarn of low and medium linear density from the longest uniform fibers (long-fiber flax, hemp, silk wastes, very long wool).

Condenser spinning, which is characterized by the use of two or three passes of the roller carding machines and by the absence of drawing and roving frames, is used for producing yarn of high linear density from different types of short, uneven fibers and their blends (short wool and wool of irregular lengths, short-fiber cotton, chemical fibers). Such yarn is more loosely and less evenly spun than carded yarn.

The staple spinning is used for the production of yarn from the tow of chemical filaments. Opening, scutching, and carding processes are not used. Sliver is produced on staplers from fibers formed during the cutting or breaking of the filaments. In direct spinning, the yarn is formed on a spinning frame, on which stapling, drawing out of the sliver, twisting, and winding also take place. In another method stapling is performed on a roving frame, and the yarn is produced from roving on a ring spinning frame.

Textured yarns, with high elasticity, are produced by the carding or combing system from blends of chemical fibers having different shrinkage properties. Mélange yarn is made from a mixture of differently colored fibers. Twisted yarns are produced on spinning-and-twisting frames or on twisting frames.

The operating conditions of spinning machines depend on the properties of the fiber, the purpose of the yarn, and the performance characteristics of the machine. It is also regulated by a spinning plan incorporating the desired characteristics of the yarn, such as linear density, twist, draft, and ply.

Future developments in spinning are associated with the creation of high-performance machines, frames, and production lines; utilization of optimum package capacity; automation of package removal and shipping; centralized control of machine operation and product quality; and the adoption of automated systems for controlling production processes.

REFERENCES

Vasil’ev, N. A. Voprosy teorii priadeniia. Moscow-Leningrad, 1932.
Kanarskii, N. la., B. E. Efros, and V. I. Budnikov. Russkie liudi v razvitii tekstil’noi nauki. Moscow, 1950.
Zotikov, V. E., I. V. Budnikov, and P. P. Trykov. Osnovy priadeniia voloknistykh malerialov. Moscow, 1959.
Mekhanicheskaia tekhnologiia voloknistykh malerialov. Moscow, 1969.
Raschet i konstruirovanie mashin priadil’nogo proizvodstva. Moscow, 1969.
Sevost’ianov, A. G., and N. I. Shilova. Bezveretennoe priadenie. Moscow, 1969.

A. G. SEVOSTIANOV

What does it mean when you dream about spinning?

Spinning in a dream can be represented by spinning of thread on a spinning wheel to create fabric, or a child spinning a top, or even themselves, in circles. It may be that the dreamer is about to embark on some sort of industrious task. It also suggests conjuring up a story or tale.

spinning

[′spin·iŋ] (engineering) The extrusion of a spinning solution (such as molten plastic) through a spinneret. (mechanical engineering) Shaping and finishing sheet metal by rotating the workpiece over a mandrel and working it with a round-ended tool. Also known as metal spinning. (textiles) Converting fibers or filaments into thread or yarn by drawing and twisting.

Spinning (metals)

A production technique for shaping and finishing metal. In the spinning of metal, a sheet is rotated and worked by a round-ended tool. The sheet is formed over a mandrel. Spinning may serve to smooth wrinkles in drawn parts, provide a fine finish, or complete a forming operation as in curling an edge of a deep-drawn part. Spun products range from precision reflectors and nose cones to kitchen utensils.

Spinning (textiles)

The fabrication of yarn (thread) from either discontinuous natural fibers or bulk synthetic polymeric material. In a textile context the term spinning is applied to two different processes leading to the yarns used to make threads, cords, ropes, or woven or knitted textile products.

Natural fibers, such as wool, cotton, or linen, are generally found as short, entangled filaments. Their conversion into yarn is referred to as spinning. After a carding operation on the raw material to disentangle the short filaments, the filaments are drawn (drafted) to promote alignment in an overlapping pattern and then twisted to form, by mechanical interlocking of the discontinuous filaments, a resistant continuous yarn.

The term spinning is also used for the production of monofilaments from synthetic polymers—for example, polyamides or nylons, polyesters, and acrylics—or modified natural polymers, such as cellulose-rayon. Generally the monofilaments are stretched (drawn) to increase their strength by promoting molecular orientation and are wound as yarn which can be used directly for threads, cords, or ropes. Such yarn, however, is often cut into relatively short lengths (staple) and reformed by a process similar to that used for natural fibers into a yarn more suitable, in terms of appearance and feel, for making certain textile products. See Textile

spinning

spin·ning

spinning

Spinning

spin•ning

spinning

spinning

spin (one) a line

spin in (one's) grave

spin off

spin out

spin (one's) wheels

have (an amount of) plates spinning

keep (an amount of) plates spinning

spin (one) a yarn

spin (one) a story

spin on (one's) heels

spin (one) a tale

spin around

spin out of control

spin around

spin off

spin out

spin something off

spin something out

spin off

spin out

keep all the plates spinning

spin off

spin out

spinning

spinning,

Spinning

REFERENCES

What does it mean when you dream about spinning?

spinning

Spinning (metals)

Spinning (textiles)

Spinning

Spinning

Spinning

Spinning

spinning

spinning

Words related to spinning

noun creating thread

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