Raw Cashmere Classing and Guard Hair Percentage Estimation
Raw cashmere value hinges on clean down yield and optical verification of residual coarse hair content below zero point five percent by mass.
OFDA2000
Analytical Instrument
High-speed optical measurements of individual fiber diameters are conducted to analyze the quality distribution of wool and cashmere fleece samples. The ofda2000 is an automated optical fiber diameter analyzer that provides rapid, on-farm and in-mill profiling of fleece batches. It captures measurements of fiber diameter and diameter variation along the length of the fiber.
Measurement Method
Slide preparation involves spreading a small sample of clean fibers across a glass slide before scanning it under the optical sensor. The ofda2000 uses a digital camera and image analysis software to measure thousands of fibers in seconds. It calculates the mean fiber diameter, standard deviation, and comfort factor, which is the percentage of fibers under thirty micrometres.
This instant output enables mills to sort incoming wool bales into precise quality grades before carding.
Fleece Profiling
Variations in fiber diameter along the staple length reveal how the health or nutrition of the animal changed during the growing season. The ofda2000 detects these changes by measuring diameter at multiple points along the single fibers, showing where thin, weak spots occur. These weak points are vulnerable to breakage during carding and spinning, which reduces the average staple length of the yarn.
Value Verification
Processing facilities use these optical scans to verify the raw material specifications before finalizing purchase contracts. This verification protects the mill from paying premium prices for batches that contain excessive coarse hair or high diameter variability.