Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machines

Computerized embroidery sewing machines are an advance over the older mechanical embroidery and sewing machines. They offer precision and variety in designs with a simplified operating procedure. With falling costs of computer hardware as well as software and easy availability of designs, computerized embroidery sewing machines have become an affordable and convenient option for home embroiders.

Operating Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine

The basic steps in operating a computerized embroidery sewing machine are as follow:

• Purchasing or making your own digitized embroidery design file

• Editing the design or combining it with other designs, if you want to

• Loading the design file onto the machine

• Preparing the fabric and the thread

• Starting the machine and monitoring its progress

Loading the Design File

Once you have finalized your design, you load it onto your computerized embroidery machine. It is done in a variety of ways: through cables, floppy disks, CDs, USB interfaces or special cards resembling flash cards and computer cards. Some machines have inbuilt computers and the designs are loaded directly onto them, while others are attached to computers that take the design. File formats for different machines are different and you will have to take care that the file format of the design you are purchasing is compatible with your machine.

Preparation of Thread and Fabric

Before placing on computerized embroidery machine, the fabric is stabilized to keep it taut and prevent wrinkles and such other problems. Method of stabilization depends on the machine, the type of the fabric and the density of the design. The most common method used for stabilization is adding one or more pieces of additional material called stabilizers or interfacing below the fabric. Stabilizers are also of many types like cut away, tear away, nylon, vinyl, water soluble, heat-n-gone, adhesive etc, and depend upon your specific requirements.

For smaller work, the fabric is placed directly on a hoop taking care that it remains taut. The hoop fits into the arm of the machine which then brings it under the needle. The thread is placed in the thread slot and fitted into the needle. Most home computerized embroidery sewing machines have only one needle and so only one color thread can be placed at a time. After the design is entered, the machine indicates which color thread it will be using first, or the user enters the color that he has placed on the machine.

Monitoring Progress

The computerized embroidery sewing machine begins to work when the fabric and thread have been placed and thread color indicated. The computer built in the machine, or attached to it, keeps directing the embroidery arm. The embroidery arm, in its turn, keeps moving the hoop in directions required to embroider the pattern. After finishing the first color the machine stops and prompts the user to cut the thread and place the next color thread. After the pattern is complete the machine stops and prompts the user to remove the fabric.

If you run a small business of sewing and embroidering, computerized embroidery sewing machine is ideal for you.