Pantyhose: Incredibly Useful, Precision Made

Pantyhose — the culmination of centuries of craftsmanship, science, and technology. They rival the VERSABALL™ in end-effector technology, made photo filters before Instagram, and are manufactured by badass machines.

When I saw the How It’s Made episode for pantyhose (which is on Netflix Instant, btw), I immediately bought some and hung them on my inspiration wall.

Now, when I want to be reminded of the marvels of automation technology and the industrial revolution, I pull ‘em on and get to work.

Thank goodness the section from How It’s Made is on YouTube. Let’s go through some highlights:

1. A ridiculous knitting machine makes a huge tangle of little strands that somehow turns into a tube. 0:41
2. Robots squeeze tubes together, cut, and sew stuff. 1:15
3. The pantyhose is turned inside-out by suction. Suction is amazing. More stitching. 2:05
4. More suction to turn it back inside-in. This part is rad. 2:44
5. Ready for the crotch gusset, use more suction. 3:04
6. Then post-processing: washing, dye, softening…boring.
7. Inspection is also amazing. Uses anti-gravity machine. 3:59
8. Some other stuff happens, and then they get folded by falling through a trap door. 4:38

The next time you need some inspiration, think about the manufacturing story behind some of the most commonplace things we see every day. Then take it up a notch and ask yourself — can I put that on a dog?

Pictures from DIYTrade and Laughing Squid.

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