Hacking a Brother Knitting Machine 1/3

[@CS-ms4wz]

I just discovered you! will be coming back here at least 100 times hahaha :)

[@olena9134]

Добрый день, дорогие друзья подскажите где купить такую плату, умоляю🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😫

[@ocsliew]

Hey Austin would you choose to purchase a newer electronic brother? Im choosing between a Brother KH 940 and Brother KH 965..... Help and thanks!

[@AustinSteingrube]

ocsliew From the perspective of this "hack", they will all work pretty much the same. The only items that make a difference is if your carriage can support two colors versus 4 colors.

[@murqri]

LOVE LOVE LOVE ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ TY SM

[@Thesweaterfactory]

Why would you want to do that? These machines are old, let it be. I say use it as intended or buy a new Silver Reed machine, that is designed to be used with a computer and software, if you’re desperate to knit with a PC. Designaknit make software for use with these old machines, so you can use it with its original electronics and still connect to a modern computer. The Brother Electroknits are still very easy to use and the majority of them 930, 940, 965i, 970 allow you to do all the things you can do if you connected it to a computer, it is just not as fast. Also, accessories available for extra storage still work.

[@jitkakejkrtova5363]

Old age does not play a role in iron. Chinese production is worse. The price is worse. Brother could not make other machines because they lasted a long time.

[@victoriapawlik9689]

Silver Reed machines are fickle and you need to pay a lot of money for each seperate part such as cables etc and the designsoftware. The point of ayab was to reinvigorate the electronic knitting machine, reuse "old machines" and thus be more environmentally friendly...also more user friendly!

[@fantassy40]

does the knitting machine need to be electric to start with as I have an 850 I bought and bought my mother an electric machine ?

[@AustinSteingrube]

Star Light Great question! It has to be electric to start with. What this hack is doing is recontrolling the sensors and electronic solenoids in the existing machine.

[@fantassy40]

ha ha, Yes I realised that after I left the question derr, I will try it it with my mums when I work out how to do put it together, Thank you for the informational video though 😊

[@AustinSteingrube]

Yeah! Have fun! Note that a lot of this stuff is kinda buggy. You'll run into issues and ruin a few pieces. But, keep at it and you'll get out of it what you put in :)

[@tweetlbug]

It looks like AYAB is not shipping to the US right now, and Knitic is no longer in existence, are there any other new projects you're aware of since you made these videos?

[@AustinSteingrube]

The only US source I knew of was Evil Mad Scientist's website, but it looks like she's stopped producing the boards herself. You might need to have a board made for you if you are set on doing this project. If you aren't electronics savvy, you may need to reach out to someone to help you out. I'd offer, but I'm up to my eyes in work at the moment. You can get the source materials for the circuit boards and firmware here: github.com/AllYarnsAreBeautiful It's a relatively simple board, so if you have any experience in soldering or playing with an Arduino, it should be fairly simple. I'd recommend the board manufacturer OSH Park which is US based and are very simple to use through their website. (All of their boards are also purple and gold which I personally find very attractive too.) That said, I did find this Etsy page. It might be the one you've already found as it has the note saying that they aren't shipping to the US due to COVID-19. You might be able to contact the seller and ask them about a work around if there are any. www.etsy.com/listing/556755446/kh-910950i-kh-930940-ayab-shield-kit

[@katek2819]

Hi. I just ordered ayab board but there's nothing on it. Could you please tell me what everything I have to buy to make it works? I have never done anything like that but will try. Thanks

[@AustinSteingrube]

Katerina K Comment what you bought and I'll see what I can do.

[@katek2819]

For Brother KH 910 I bought AYAB Shield v 1.3TH

[@AustinSteingrube]

Katerina K Assuming you bought this: ayab-knitting.com/ayab-shield/ , you'll need an Arduino Uno, soldering iron, rosin-core solder, wire cutters, and a USB cable for the Arduino.

[@katek2819]

I do have an Arduino with USB cable , beeper, machine sensor connector (3 pins) and clear AYAB shield but for connect these 2 shields together i would like to know what all material i have to buy to solder at AYAB shield.

[@AustinSteingrube]

Katerina K just a soldering iron, wire cutters, and some solder. I'd recommend a solder sponge to wipe off excess solder or debris from the iron, but you could use a paper towel (or a piece of cotton cloth you can dispose of after tainting it with lead).