Impressions - February 2016 - 30

Out With the Old
If you're not in a position to spring for a new
embroidery machine just yet, here are a few
individual updates you can make.

Today's smaller
multiheads can output
similar volume, yet
take up less space and
are more versatile than
behemoths of the past.

can't hold registration, what's the point?
The pantograph motors need to move faster
and the pantograph itself must still carry the
weight of the garment.
Machine speeds seem to have plateaued in
the last decade. Sewing speeds for singleheads
have hovered around 1,200 stitches per minute
and multiheads now can sew at about 1,000
stitches per minute.
But as sewing speeds have somewhat
topped out, engineers have been examining
other ways to get more production out of
machines.There have been many advancements
in color-change and thread-trimming speeds
that have greatly reduced the running time
of designs. The ramp-up time for the motors
has increased and many manufacturers have
switched to servo motors for the pantograph.
This allows it to move faster, smoother and
more quietly than ever before.
To put things in perspective, consider
this: Today's eight-head machines with
servo motors and the other aforementioned
improvements can produce more than many
12-head models made just a few years ago.
This also follows the trend of smaller
machine sizes. With most of the large
contract embroidery business gone and custom
embroidery being the predominant option,
smaller machines that can change over quickly
are more desirable.
While the behemoth 12- and 15-head
machines are hardly sold anymore, there has
been an increase in what used to be considered
medium-sized machines (six and eight heads).
They can output similar volume, yet take up
less space and are more versatile.
MAINTENANCE
While embroidery machines must be oiled
regularly, manufacturers have been working
diligently to cut down on the amount of
maintenance required for certain parts. For
P.30

1. USB Drive Emulators: These devices are designed
to be a direct replacement for a floppy disk
drive and allow you to use a USB thumb drive.
Be sure to check with your machine distributor
or technician to ensure compatibility.
2. Transmitting Designs: Software programs, even many
basic editing programs, can now transmit designs
directly to the machine. And some networking
programs allow for a central database of designs
and have a simple reader station at the machine
that can scan designs from a barcode.
3. USB Via Serial Cables: If you still would like to
transmit data to your older machine, it probably
has a serial port to which you can connect a
USB port via cables.

4. Software: Updated software versions available on the market
enable you to rotate, resize and even set up the color
sequence of a design, all before sending it to the machine.
In many cases, you can even do this while another design
is running, which increases efficiency.

example, bushings and gears that required
regular lubrication are being replaced with
sealed bearings and belts that don't. As an added
bonus, these changes tend to reduce noise. And
some machines now even include indicators
that signal when lubrication is needed.
AT TAC H M E N T S
The most-used accessory for embroidery
machines today still is the cap frame. It is
included with nearly every machine. Because
of its importance to the market, a great deal
of engineering has gone into this vital area.
Manufacturers always are looking to make
cap frames easier to load and unload from
the machine, while also making them more
adaptable to the ever-changing variety of caps
on the market. However, subtle changes to the
sewing arm allow you to sew higher on most
caps - up to an extra ¼-inch.
The biggest trend in attachments is the
continued move away from conventional
hooping. More and more embroiderers favor
adhesive stabilizer-based frames, and an
increasing variety of frames are available for
this hooping method.
The newest trend in hooping includes
magnet-based hoops, like the Mighty

I M P R E S S I O N S M A G . C O M February 2016

Hoop by Midwest Products. It is similar to
a conventional hoop but relies on powerful
magnets to hold the rings together, putting
less stress on an embroiderer's hands.
Along those lines, clamps of various sizes
and types also are increasing in popularity.
Once thought to be reserved for bags, they
are being used for many types of goods that
are difficult to hoop by conventional means.
In fact, Hoop Tech carries a variety of clamps
with interchangeable windows to adapt to many
different applications. EFP's Gator Clamp can
be adjusted to fit any project.
A lot has changed in embroidery during
the last 25 years. Machines are more durable,
quieter and advanced. And with all the options
for accessories, hooping has never been easier.
With all these developments, it's clear that
embroidery is now pushing the envelope and
no longer is behind the times. 
Steven Batts, a consultant with 25 years of experience
in the embroidery industry, owns Righteous Threads,
Greensboro, N.C., which offers digitizing, embroidery
and machine maintenance services. He regularly
leads seminars at ISS shows and is an industry
speaker and consultant. For more information
or to comment on this article, email Steven at
righteousthreads@gmail.com.
http://www.IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM
Impressions - February 2016

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