Technologies
Where fashion meets cutting-edge technology
We use the latest and greatest. That's why major corporations come to us for product and design testing.
Our center provides undergraduate and graduate students with access to industry technologies that prepare them for professional internships, careers within the textile and apparel industry, and advanced degrees. The CMDT matches faculty and students to companies who provide support for student and faculty research by donating commercially unavailable textiles and other materials and components, product specific technical advice, and prototype testing.
Our technologies are not hidden away in a laboratory — they are shared with faculty, students and industry partners, with whom we work on a contractual basis. Accessibility of our technologies is an important component of CMDT.
Makerbot Z18 3D Replicator
The Fused Deposition 3D printer creates realistic prototypes and models for demonstration.
Human Solutions VITUS XXL/smart 3D body scanner
The body scanner collects 300,000 digital data points within 15 seconds, creating a virtual image of the scanned subject and over 120 different body measurements.
FLIR Systems ThermoVision A325 infrared imaging system
The infrared imaging system is equipped with a detector that produces thermal images of 320 x 240 pixels, ensuring crisp, clear images. The camera can sense temperature differences as small as 50mK with accuracy.
Thermotron Environmental Systems Walk-in Room Model Environmental Chamber
The environmental chamber has a temperature range of -20 F to +180 F and a humidity range of 20% to 95% +/-5% RH. The unit has internal working dimensions of 6'D x 11.5'W x 10'H; more than enough room to accommodate a piece of exercise equipment,
a subject, researcher and thermal camera. It is housed in the Engineering Building. CMU Walk-in Chamber Case Study
Wireless Physiological Monitoring and Biofeedback System (Stens Corporation)
Nexus generation instrumentation with high precision sensor technology that provides the ability to measure EMG, EEG, EOG and ECG as well as skin temperature, respiration, heart rate and skin conductance.
Sweating Thermal Manikin (Measurement Technology Northwest)
This lifesize thermal manikin has 46 independently controlled zones that allow for precise temperature and humidity measurements among both male and female subjects. The manikin enables the researchers to obtain data related to wet/dry heat
loss.
Baby Therman Manikin
Our baby manikin, named Lumi, is approximately the size of a 12-month old child. Lumi is constructed from a thermally conductive carbon-epoxy shell with inside heating elements and temperature sensors. Spherical ball joints are used at the neck,
shoulders, and hips, with single-flexure joints at the knees and elbows. All testing with Lumi must occur within an environmental chamber that can control heat and humidity while keeping air velocity at a minimum.
Sweating Guarded Hotplate (Measurement Technology Northwest)
The hotplate produces accurate, repeatable measurements of the thermal resistance and vapor permeability of textiles. An adjustable-height airflow hood easily accommodates a variety of sample thicknesses.
Textest Instruments FX3300 LabAir IV Permeability Machine
The air permeability tester's sturdy clamping mechanism and quick release locking feature ensure accurate support for specimens during testing. The automatic measuring range control eliminates a source of error and allows the best possible reproducibility
of the test from cycle to cycle.
Gerber AccuScan Digitizer and AccuMark Software
The Gerber digitizing and patterning software allows apparel product developers to digitize final patterns for production purposes such as grading, nesting, printing and cutting.
CAD Lab
This lab utilizes industry standardized software, including CAD design and technical design software, 3D visualization software, a product data management system, color matching software and a variety of web creation software.
Apparel Production Laboratory
This lab contains the equipment necessary for apparel design, functional design, pattern making, construction, fit evaluation, garment quality and construction analysis.
Textile Testing Laboratory
The Fashion Merchandising and Design program maintains a textile testing laboratory that provides students and faculty with a variety of textile testing equipment, including several pieces of ASTM and AATCC standardized equipment for performance
testing. An environmental chamber ensures that all testing is done under proper environmental conditions.
