Newbie Constant Threadbreaks

[EarlsEmbroidery]

Hello,
Im a Newb with a 2-head amaya. (2004 OS and DSP+). unfortunately I had no training and I have no warranty, BUT, prior to purchase, I watched machines work a couple of jobs.

I read entire OS manual 3 times and I figured out the basics. BUT I have been getting threadbreaks on both machines every 5-10 seconds of sewing any design. I changed all the needles and made sure they are straight. the machines sewed 1 design with only 1 thread break only once. consistent thread breaking ever since. the thread is kind of jumpy as the needle goes up and down. Ive tried different fabrics. it seems to have fewer thread breaks when sewing on denim. any help is appreciated.

[Juli in Kona]

Try lowering the presser foot.

Juli in Kona

[Meezer City]

The eye of the needles need to be turned about 5 degrees to the right. If they are straight or to the left you will have nothing but trouble.

[levelbest]

Actually - straight on is in spec.

Here is the exact information from my notes as taught by John Hanson at tech training:

Needle Orientation - Straight on is best. Spec is 0-20% - 5% right nominal. If you think of a clock, by the time it gets to one minute, you are already past the spec.

Typically 50% of needles on all service calls are rotated wrong.

[Meezer City]

Well I guess you just can't trust those California trainers. We were told 5. Anyway mine are a tick to the right and I have no problems.

[Pure Embroidery]

What is your feed setting? Have you adjusted your presser foot correctly? Do you have the right needleplate in? What speed are you sewing at? Have you checked your feed rollers? The list goes on.

Try this. Set your material feed to manual and set it at 4. Make sure you have the flat needleplate installed and centered. Hoop your fabric and place it on the machine. Set the presser foot so that it just touches the fabric. You don't want any space between the presser foot and the fabric.

Make sure your bobbin case is set correctly. Load a bobbin and bring the thread through the slit in the bobbin case, but don't wrap the pigtail. Hold the thread and drop the bobbin. It should fall slightly, but slowly and stop somewhere between 6 and 12 inches. If it falls to fast adjust the tension. If it falls too slow or not at all, adjust the tension. Now put a different bobbin in and do the same thing. Do this with 3 different bobbins. Trust me.

Make sure your needles are in correctly. The kerf (indention) to the back. I have my needles rotated about 5 to 10 degrees to the right and don't have any problems. Try them straight on at first, then a little to the right.

Set your sewing speed to 900 stiches per minute and watch the thread feed. You should see just a little bounce in the thread. It should not be tight, but you shouldn't see loops jumping either.

Do not sew the same design that you have been having problems with. Use one of the designs that came with the software. Pick a simple one.

If everything runs right. Load your problem design. Now we can find out if you have mechanical issues, software issues, or design issues.

Good luck. Remember there is a learning curve.

[Aaron]

ALthough straight on is spec I have heard and ran them at either straight or up to 5 degrees to the right and they work just fine either way. Most people don't realize how little of a turn 5 degrees is however [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Aaron]

If the OS being used is 2004 then there probably isn't a choice for auto MT. The software has come a long way since the 2004 version and I would strongly suggest looking into upgrading your OS to the newest version. Not to say this is the problem but overall it will help your machine performance.

[Trainer]

Hi:

I am responding to the post regarding California Trainers--I am the only California Trainer and I want to clarify the post that I said the needle eye should be 5 degrees to the right.

I tell all my students that most of them do not know their weak eye from their strong one. I always have everyone focus on a particular circular design on the wall in the training facility. I have them put their thumb on the design with both eyes open and then close their left, than their right eye and see what eye stays centered on the design (this technique I learned from John Hanson, Melco's Technical Trainer). I then tell my students zero is best but it is easier since most people do not see straight to turn the needle slightly to the right from 5-15 degrees (not percent as someone posted). This way they do not accidently turn it to the left, which will cause thread breaks.

I just wanted to clear up what I do tell my students and not have one of my students post that they should not trust what I say.

Thanks and Happy Sewing!

Cynthia Tisby

[ September 06, 2007, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: Trainer ]