Getting down

[Oregonian1a]

My machine is really new and I try to be upbeat. But I am frustrated. Threads don't trim. Thread breaks often. I suppose it is the V9 software, but I got really down when I saw a vendor at the horse show this weekend using 3 XT machines and she told me it was a struggle to keep them going. One was down as we spoke. It suffered from continuous thread breaks. This is not good.

Just blowing off steam I suppose. Forgive. I will dump the V9 OS and give it a try again with V7 because I didn't have these problems with V7.
I need this thing to work. It's probably just me.

Dennis

[levelbest]

My opinion - if the machine works with 7 - stick with it right now. There are a lot of nice features in 9 - but if you need to produce, and you know one works better over the other on YOUR machine... stick with it.

The nice thing about the software is you can load both versions on the same computer.

Honestly, since the beta program for 9 ended, many have been out of the loop on how the issues found with v. 9 are being addressed. In the past, testers were engaged to keep testing new incremental versions. As with most software, feedback and issues keep rolling in (even after the sofware goes gold) and then typically are sent out to test sites to see if any other issues develop as a result of the fix - you know - fix one thing, break another.

I don't know how that's being handled right now because as far as I know, the beta program was pretty much disbanded when Jeff Banks passed.

Given the feedback and issues here - I'd say that a test program is still very much needed and was a great value to Melco.

Hopefully, managment will see fit to reinstitute something soon and appoint someone to fill the valuable role Jeff played in the organization.

Just one dude's opinion...

[Oregonian1a]

I should never make a post when I am frustrated lol. My bad. Since I was a recent purchaser I received a copy of V9 for free, so it's really not my place to complain and I shouldn't have.

As I have mentioned in posts I worked for nearly 15 years on the engineering/programming side of the control systems on machinery not altogether dissimilar to the XT. I like being the customer now because I can throw a tantrum [img]smile.gif[/img]

I wish I knew more about this system. For instance; I see multiple references to stepper motors. I have also seen a reference in the posts to the Hall inputs. Why would there be Hall inputs on a system that used stepper motors? There must be a servos in the system as well as steppers is my hunch.

Does anyone know if there is a tech manual available for the XT?

[Rod or Sharon]

Dennis,

When we were there I showed you the Parts & Tech CD that came with the machine. That is the only tech manual information available that I am aware of.

Rod & Sharon Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainers

[Rod or Sharon]

As far as the software for Ver9....If I were you, if you haven't already, uninstall Ver9 and re-install it. Does your machine "sound" different with Ver9 than with Ver7? High pitch whine or whirring noise? If so the X-axis cable may need retensioned. Go thru a complete lubrican procedure, regardless of where the timers are at right now. Check your hook timing, etc, etc. Un-installing Ver 9 may un-install Ver7 also if you aren't careful and you may wind up having to re-install both. Ver9 automatically installs into a file neame Melco. Ver7 installs into a file named Melco Embroidery Systems, which is part of the reason why we can have both systems on the same computer. We just can't have both of them "open" at the same time.

Make sure all firewalls and/or virus programs are turned off before re-installing. Always make sure DS and AOS are the last programs loaded. Don't load other programs onto the computer. Big programs like Corel Draw and AI can affect the registry in AOS/DS.

Also, load a design in AOS and then right click on the 3D icon in the toolbar and uncheck "Hardware Accelleration". This affects it's performance. I was recently at a customers site and found that the video clips in the Help section of the new software wouldn't play with out first disabling the Hardware Accelleration feature. Do this in DS also.

I have an XT and a standard Amaya(2004). After loading V9, a couple of the quirks I see are that in DS, the program freezes up every so often. A work around is just to do a control- alt- delete but do not click on End Session, just X out of it. Seems to kick start into action whatever you were trying to do last in DS????.

The other little nusiance is that the Auto activ-feed now does not work on the Standard Amaya but works ok with the XT. Going back to Ver7 Auto actifeed will respond on both machines...????

I am not experiencing any increase in mis-trims or thread breaks. I do see a little better quality and suttle differences in some of the designs and small lettering.

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[Steve I]

John,

This dude agrees with you. Since Jeff passed it appears that any problems reported fall into a black hole. I don't have any problems that can't be worked around but some things are just not right and need to be addressed.

Steve I.
Trinity Embroidery

[Wishes]

Dear Rod,
Please understand that you know these machines much better than I do. We also had the problem with the actifeed and when I mentioned this to a melco engineer he told me to change the lower limit in setting, threadfeed, lower limit. It has worked ever sense. If I am sewing hats I usually make it 3 or 4 and thinner fabric 1 or 2.
Margaret

[Rod or Sharon]

Margaret,
Thanks for the suggestion. You are right to tell folks to check on this setting for the lower limit. I remind people of this often too.

This little thing I am experiencing is a direct result of Ver9 vs Ver7.....acti-feed responds in Ver7 but not in Ver9 with my old 2004 Amaya and the settings are ok ... I haven't gone so far as to swap out a thread break sensor but think i will try that one of these days when I get the time to fool around with it.

Thanks again, shows you were thinking in the right direction tho....

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[Oregonian1a]

I did notice a bit more hum in the motors over V7 and attributed this to changed tuning parameters. I didn't give it much thought, and understand why this occurs in these sorts of systems, or at least why it occurs with servo motors. Not 100% sure how a stepper can become unstable, but my experience with stepper systems was in an "open-loop" (no position feedback) configuration.

Thank you for reminding me that there is a hook timing adjustment. When I get brave I will try that procedure. I have run a design on V9 OS that worked without issue, but the latest does not without the thread snaping back out of the needle on every trim. I ran the same file using V7 - no problem.

Maybe it's because I turned on the tie-off always option on that design? At any rate, I am forwarding the problem to the government to see if I can some bail-out money... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Dennis