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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

I get asked a lot of questions about so many things concerning embroidery machines and how to use them. Here are some Frequently asked Question and my responses.

 


Free Images - faq

 

 

 

Embroidery Information:

Which embroidery machines are best and what to look out for when shopping for a machine. Information on legalities. 


 What about Embroidery Machines: Which embroidery machines are best and what to look out for when shopping for a machine.

 Used Embroidery Machine Landmines: Do your homework before you spring for a machine. You don’t want a $3000 boat anchor

 What is a used embroidery machine worth? I wish they made a Kellys Blue book for embroidery machines but I havent found one.


CUSTOMER SUPPLIED GARMENT WAIVER: People bring you all kinds of things to embroider, and you can get into some real trouble if you mess it up.

 

 Needful Things: Reviews and information on some things that I have found help with your embroidery.

 

 

Let's talk about it!

 

 

 

DIY Embroidery Machine Repair:

Articles from AJST on repairing and working on your Embroidery Machine.

 

 Electronics in an embroidery machine: What are the boards and electronics in a commercial embroider machine, and how do they interact with each other?

 Oil and Grease for your Embroidery Machine: Machine maintenance will prolong the life of your machine and give you more sewing time. Embroidery machines do not last forever but a little preventive maintenance will keep your machine running and trouble free.

 

 Thread Tension: Understanding and setting your thread tension properly can mean the difference in high-quality good-looking embroidery and frustrating and ugly stitches.

 

 Rotary Hooks: Information on Rotary hooks. Rotary hook prices range from about $18.00 to over $300.00 and may need to be replaced at around 3 to 5 years. Quality does make a difference.

 Hook Timing: Information on replacing your rotary hook and/or setting your hook timing. 

 My embroidery machine wont turn: This is a very common error that you may get with an embroidery machine is when the main shaft does not rotate. follow the steps to diagnose and remedy this error.

 Needle stuck in rotary hook: Facebook video on jammed rotary hook. 

 Updating your floppy drive to a USB Drive. Some things you may need to know.

Emergency Parts Information 

 

Machine specific information:

 

 Happy:

 Happy Machine - Needle Bar Driver Roller BearingsSome Happy Embroidery machines use a Needle Bar Driver and roller bearings instead of a Reciprocator. Here is some information on Needle bar drivers. 

 


 

Ricoma:

 Ricoma: My Main Axis is does not stop at 100 Degrees. This information also applys to most Chinese embroidery machines. 


SWF:

SWF Serial Number Decode - Here is how to determine the year model of your SWF Embroidery Machine from your serial number.

 


Toyota:

 Stitch count on a Toyota Embroidery Machine: How do you find out how many stitches on a Tajima Neo or Toyota Embroidery Machine? 

 

 

 

 

Shade tree embroidery machine mechanic. 

 

 

 

 

 Embroidering tips and discussion:

Tips and How-to information on how to use your embroidery machine.

  

Metallic thread problem:  Help: Sewing with Metallic thread can be a challenge. I have some successful customers that are willing to share how they make it work. 

Stitching on hard structured, buckram caps: We receive a lot of complaints and concerns about hard structured caps including The Infamous Richardson 112 and similar model caps. Here are few things that you can do that may help when embroidering these caps.

 

 Richardson 112

The Infamous Richardson 112

 

 

 

Library and Links: 

Links, PDFs, and other sources of knowledge.

 

Quick Links Here are some quick links to things you might need as you are running your embroidery business.

 

Needful Things: Reviews and information on some things that I have found help with your embroidery.

 


20 Terrible Tales of True Horror From the Library | Ghostbusters ...

The Library. 

 

 

 

Document Dump:

 

Suggested Training Supplies: These are tools supplies and materials that you may need to have on hand for training.

 

Emergency Repair Kits:

 

Fonts for Wilcom

 

 

 MJ-12: New Document Dump, Labeled 'Ultra Top Secret'

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

Picker Adjustment:

How do you know your picker is out of adjustment? These are some indicators but are not deffinite causes for your issues. 

  • Thread pulls out of the needle when you start to sew.
  • Thread does not catch with the bobbin thread when sewing.
  • Thread sticks out of the top of the cloth.

 

 


 

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Should I buy a new or used machine?

If you are new to embroidery you may want to consider buying a new machine as your first. With your new machine you usually get technical support, training, technical support, warranties, technical support, and it is easier to get financial support. Oh, and did I mention that with a new machine you can get TECHNICAL SUPPORT?

You can save substantial money buying a used machine. The bottom line is this. You can get a good machine in your budget but there are a lot of pitfalls. Do your homework before you spring for a machine. You don’t want a $3000 boat anchor

 

 

 

 

These are tools supplies and materials that you may need to have on hand for training.

 

 

Understanding and setting your thread tension properly can mean the difference in high-quality good-looking embroidery and frustrating and ugly stitches.

Think of thread tension as a game of tug-of-war between the bobbin thread and the upper threads. Two groups of kids on the playground are facing off, but instead of out pulling each other they are trying to keep a knot in the middle of the rope in the center.

If Team Bobbin pulls really hard then Team Needle 1 has to pull harder to keep the knot in the center. On the other hand, if Team Bobbin is not pulling very hard then Team Needle 1 does not have to pull hard.  

The extremes are:

  • If both teams are pulling too hard you will have more thread breaks and broken needles.
  • If both teams are not pulling very hard you will have loopy thread on top and the chance of more bird nest.

 

User Manuals, Parts Books :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main Motor Lock. or Main Shaft Error. or My embroidery machine wont turn. My machine does not stop at 100!

This is a very common error that you may get with an embroidery machine is when the main shaft does not rotate. follow the steps to diagnose and remedy this error.

One very common error that you may get with a embroidery machine is when the main shaft does not rotate. You will get any number of error codes and phrases such as Main Motor Lock, Main Shaft Error, Sewing Motor Lock, and Z-axis not work.

This error is common in most embroidery machines including Avance', Barudan, Butterfly, Dublin, Feiya, Happy, Highland, Melco, Mesa, Meistergram, Pantograms, Pro Capsule, Ricoma, SWF, Tajima, Toyota, and ZSK.

 The base problem you have when you get this error is the main motor or sewing motor is not turning as it should. This could be the motor going out however it is very rare that the motors fail on these machines. The vast majority of the time the issue will be a broken needle jammed in the Rotary Hook. So this is how I diagnose the issue.

Tajima Error codes

error 211 - A fixed position signal is not detected. (Main shaft Z signal) - Return the main shaft to the fixed position. Check the encoder signal

error 311 - *Encoder A signal status does not change for 5 seconds, *Motor or belt failure - *Check the main shaft driver for excitation *Check encoder and encoder signal lines,

 

 

 

Read the article below and follow the steps to diagnose and remedy Main Motor Lock or Main Shaft Error

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