Design slipping

[GailForce Designs]

I have a design with an outline. The first two shirts stitched out perfect, the third and fourth shirts, the stitches inside the outline stitched out pulled in from the outline, so there is a little gap between the embroidery. Since the first two were fine, I'm guessing its not the digitized file, but something I'm doing with the machine? Its 9pm est and I have to do these shirts to deliver in the morning. If there's anyone checking in on the west coast that can help with ideas of things to check I'd appreciate it. I can email pictures if that would help, just let me know.
Thanks!!!
Natalie

[Loyda]

Hi,
Couple of things to try/check. Are you using Auto or Standard Acti-feed? The reason I ask is that if it is Auto, something may be triggering different tension and causing more pull on the fabric? Maybe try running it on Standard with a value of 4 or 5? The other thought, along the same lines, is that if the fabric is being pulled a little differently now than the first 2 shirts, maybe you may try using a little temporary adhesive spray on the stabilizer (assuming you are using cutaway) to keep the fabric in place better. Just a couple of things to try.

[GailForce Designs]

Thanks Loyda. I was able to get ahold of the digitizer last night who said to slow the speed down from 850 to 600 which worked. But I'm now doing caps of the same logo, but a cap file, and am having the same problem even with the lower speed. I am using Auto Acti-Feed. If I switch to Standard for the caps, would I still set the value at 4 or 5?
Thanks!

[gcannon]

Try about 8 to 9 for standard on canvas caps.

[signman]

I have found the (outside source) digitized files tend to have a fairly tight (dense) fill...as low as 3. For me, that is way too dense and results in 'fills' shrinking from the pull-so the outlines no longer land on the edge. On hats especially-you just cannot use the denser (lower number) fill settings because there isn't anything preventing the hat face material from 'shrinking' as the stitches tighten up. I would click on each of your fill areas and see what the density is...loosen it up a bit, add some more underlayment if needed to 'tie' the fabric to the backing where it belongs...little details like this can really make a difference in the output.
On the shirts, since Fred finally convinced us to go to a layer of mesh-we have almost eliminated any puckering or 'shrinking' of designs on shirts and even teeshirts. But it won't work on hats. Need a good stiff tearaway or on some hats 2 layers. And your design has to be sewing 'bottom up' and 'center out' to help hold it in place.