Step 1: Understanding the carding process.
In carding, the cylinder and flat work together to open and clean fibres. The setting between them influences the quality of the output sliver.
Step 2: Effect of wider cylinder-flat setting.
When the gap (setting) between cylinder and flat is wider:
The control over short fibres and impurities reduces.
Fibre transfer between cylinder and flat becomes less effective.
As a result, impurities like seed coats and fibre clusters may not be removed properly.
Step 3: Impact on sliver.
Due to the ineffective cleaning, small fibre entanglements called neps are more likely to remain in the sliver. Hence, wider settings cause higher nep formation.