What machine did Leonardo da Vinci design to produce thread by twisting fibres mechanically?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a spinning machine to produce thread by twisting fibres mechanically.

Leonardo studied textile machinery and drew mechanisms intended to automate parts of spinning. A spinning machine converts prepared fibres into thread by drawing them out and twisting them. Leonardo’s proposals used coordinated mechanical motion to reduce the amount of manual work required for this process.

Textile production was an important industry in Renaissance Italy, especially in cities such as Florence and Milan. Improving spinning could increase consistency and output, so it was a natural subject for Leonardo’s investigations into gears, cams, and continuous motion.

The machine should not be confused with a loom. A spinning machine makes thread from fibres, while a loom interlaces threads to make fabric. Leonardo’s textile sketches often involve several related stages of production, which is why naming the operation matters.