thread shreading

[cbireley]

Urgh...has anyone had their thread shred during designs? What would cause this and is there a quick remedy? It happens randomly throughout a design I'm currently working on...I've switched out needles, checked presser foot, changed bobbins, changed thread, even and it continues...

thanks!

[Meier Custom Emb.]

Cindy
I had that happen to me once, and I had a burr somewhere in my bobbin case from a needle break. I just took my little screw driver and lightly ran it over every where the thread touches and found it and then smoothed it down with the side edge of my screw driver and haven't had any trouble sence.
Just one option.

[Rod or Sharon]

We need more information to be of any real help but my first thought is that you may have your needle turned too far to either the right or left. When inserting your needle, use the indention down the front of the needle to line it up--not the eye. We use a small, lighted magnifying glass. Insert your needle either straight on or slightly (5-10 degrees) to the right. NEVER to the left. Is what happens if the needle is to the left, is that when the needle starts its 1 degree rise, the thread is pinched with the fabric causing a small bubble. At that exact moment, the hook has to go through that little bubble. If the needle is not turned properly, it will either miss the bubble or hit the thread causing either a break or a frey.

If this isn't the problem, then we need to know more about the design you are sewing--small columns, etc, fabric, stabilizer being used, speed you are stitching, etc.
Sharon

[Di]

I am having the same problem. The first time I called I was told to look at the needle plate hole and sure enough there was a rough spot where the needle hit inside the hole. So I buffed it out. Then it worked fine for a very short time and I started having major problems again. I was told to replace the bobbin case so I did. Still had problems so I was told to take the needle plate off and the bobbin case out, turn the machine off and use a flashlight to look around the "bobbin area of the machine" (sorry don't know the official name) and check for any burrs. Didn't find any so I guess I'll call again. Since my machine is only 5 months old, does anyone know if this should be a warranty issue? I guess I should call my sales rep too. When I find a solution I'll post it for you.

Good luck!!!!

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Di,
Chances are you problem is stemming from your needle. A quick way to check for this is to know if your thread fraying happens on one needle or more than one.
If on only one needle, make sure your needle is in correctly. All the way up into the needle clamp and eye straight forward. Don't get distracted by rotating a million degrees to the right. Front of the needle in the front - you should know this.
If on more than one needle, you have a thead path problem and if you don't know what you're looking for in the bobbin area or on the rest of the machine, it will be hard to interpret via e-mail. Suggest a tech look at it. Not only will your problem be solved but you will be that much more knowledgable after the tech leaves. Consider it an investment in your training. There will be other things the tech will take into consideration such as how old the machine is, what model, how much usage, what kind of maintenance there has been, and so on ...
Have you recently done any work on the machine such as cleaning out any birdsnests?? Or possible any lubrication procedures. Sometimes the customer can throw things out of specification without even knowing it.
Give us as much information as you can and we'll (the list) try to give you some more suggestions.
Good Luck,
Ed Orantes
Melco Tech & Trainer,
504-258-6260

[Steve]

The area under the needle plate is the rotary hook, do not use any sharp obects there, it could be as simple as using your lint brush or canned air and blow out any debris that is in there. (blowing air will find lint and thread and stuff you can't see.) Are the thread breaks on all colors or just one? If it is just one, replace the needle, if it is all, try what I said above.
You can buy a can of compressed air at any office supply or computer store for about $4.

[Di]

It's happening on all the needles I use and I read before about the positioning of the needles and which is the front and back of the needle. A very nice tech did try to explain where to look for burrs, but like I said, I don't know that I completely understand. I'll just call my sales rep and see what he has to say, then I'll probably just have a tech come out before I waste more time, thread, needles and frustration.

I bought my machine in Dec 07 and really haven't done a lot of work on it - about 100 hats and about 10 stitch outs of a left chest logo. I didn't use my machine at all until after I got back from training at the end of Jan and came home and did all the maintenance as suggested in class. Then I do the rotary hook once a day if I'm going to use the machine. And I did the bars for the hat hoop and the one where you put the 24 drops of oil. So I've kept up with maintenance for the small amount of use.

But like I said, I should just probably have a tech come out.

Thanks for all your advice!

[Di]

Steve, I wrote the above before I saw your response. I'll definitely try that before calling a tech.

Thanks!