Embroidery Developments

Bobbin, Jan, 2001 by Lola Howle

Embroidery machinery and software suppliers continue to pack their machines and programs with more tools and expanded functions focused on ease of use and efficiency.

The year 2000 may have been a milestone on the calendar, but for the world of embroidery, it was one of subtle adjustment and enhancement to an established technological base. While it remains to be seen whether 2001 will bring more dramatic developments, many in the industry have suggested that few "new directions" are left uncharted in the popular market for thread-embellished apparel and accessories.

Using the Bobbin Americas 2000 trade show as a gauge, for instance, it was evident that embroidery industry suppliers continue to Concentrate on adding functionality and convenience to existing embroidery machines and software systems, rather than striking off in any completely new directions. Still, new additions to their lines offer many benefits to embroiderers and embellishers who are trying to improve production efficiency, expand design capabilities and generally streamline their operations while making them more flexible.

Machinery: More Memory, Larger Sewing Areas

For embroidery machines, the emphasis tends to be on expanding versatility rather than continuing to push the envelope on production capacity and sewing speed, although those factors are being tweaked in a few cases.

For example, Barudan America's newest model is the single-needle, single-head B2000. It sews at 2,000 stitches per minute (spm) and is designed for heavy-duty monogramming work. A built-in monogramming system allows this operation without additional investment in hardware or software, using the machine's own keyboard and monitor. It makes switching to different monograms possible in a short time without reprogramming the machine. With 400 kilobytes (K) of memory, the B2000 doubles the font memory capacity of previous Barudan machines, says Thaddeus Badowski, site project manager/engineering services at Barudan America's Solon, OH, location. In addition, the unit processes at least three times faster than previous machines and has a built-in design preview feature, he notes.

"The sewing surface is able to remain smoother at the high sewing speed because on this design, the pantograph is moving up and down and side to side while the needle zigzags to produce the rest of the thread motion to create the design. The model also contains much-improved diagnostic functions," Badowski adds.

With similarly specific uses in mind, Tajima has introduced Jumbo Design embroidery machines in its V series. The TMFX-VG 1212 can run 12 heads for a sewing field of 1,200 millimeters (mm) by 550 mm, or convert to six heads, thus enlarging that Reid to 1,200 mm by 1,100 mm. Another new machine, the TMFXIII-1202, sews a field of 1,200 mm by 600 mm when employing two sewing heads, and 1,200 mm by 1,200 mm with just a single head activated. Each machine offers 12-needle embroidery capacity, stepping (pulse) motors for noise reduction, Tajima's original Z-drive frame system for precise operation and speeds that can reach 1,200 spin.

In addition, the company has released its flatbed model TMFX V-G1515, featuring 15 sewing heads, optional larger monitor and touch-panel controls, quieter operation, maximum speed of 1,000 spm, accurate pulse motors, design display screen, joystick controls, trace functions and a 1.14-million-stitch memory.

Moreover, Tajima's TMEX-C series includes new arm-type cylinder models designed for quick response embroidery applications and productivity at high speeds. This series is fitted with Tajima's newest slim cylinders, easy frame exchange systems and expanded memory equal to that of the TMFX V-G1515. This Tajima line offers either eight or six heads sewing at 900 spin. Engineers for the company report that all new Tajima machines will incorporate the same electronics, frame drive, cards, software and panel configurations as the new TMEX-C series line to allow more precise operation and easily interchangeable elements.

In new Happy embroidery machines, which are distributed by Texmac Inc., there is the model HCGX1506-45TTC. This six-head embroidery machine can be equipped with either 12 needles or 15 needles per head, covering an area of 450 mm by 500 mm with stitching. The machine also can accommodate wide and semi-wide cap jobs. Its maximum production speed is about 900 spin, but its memory can hold 259,000 stitches on a built-in disk drive unit. The model comes with a PC connection port and rotary thread break detection device.

Design Software: Programs Encompass More Tools

On the software side of the industry, graphic technology continues to refine the vector-based systems eagerly accepted by embroidery designers over the past few years. While debuts of entirely new software systems are rare, releases of upgrades and add-on modules that increase functionality are occurring at a rapid pace.

For example, Capital Automation Information Systems (CAI) has developed the SEDS Mobile digitizing systems, built to run on Windows-based laptops or desktops with a USB or parallel port. The top-of-the-line SEDS Mobile Insignia system comes with a long list of features and related services, including: lifetime free technical phone support; free online video tutorials; 3-D globe special effects; stitch sculpturing; fancy radial stitch; three types of fancy pattern fills; gradual fill tools for smooth gradients; printed simulation of designs; catalog output into HTML format; design output in most machine formats; and all of the features of the SEDS Mobile Imagine system. The Imagine package includes: digitizing; editing; bleed/jagged edge effects; object inheritance with auto borders; a photo embroidery function; TrueType iFont lettering; and automatic digitizing functions.