Full Version: Cadillac of the Embroidery Machines
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1]
6 Dec 2004
To: ALL
I've heard, and seen, the names Toyota, Melco, and Meistergram as a few of the computerized embroidery machines.
For those of you "In the know", what's considered to be the Cadillac of the industry?
Obviously, I'm trying to get some embroidery talk started, but I'm also trying to broaden my knowledge on the topic.
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA
From: lindalee [#2]
6 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 6 Dec 2004
David, The best machine, hands down, is the Barudan. I've had a single head for 10 years, with not a down day. They're like that little pink bunny, they just keep runin & runnin.
I have used Meistergram, Brother & Barudan, I like my barudan best.
Linda Tetreault
Laser Impressions
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#3]
6 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 6 Dec 2004
David,
I don't claim to know the first thing about embroidery equipment, but I do sell plenty of embroidered goods, and have been in plenty of embroidery job shops in my lifetime.
From what I have seen, the "big boys" seem to gravitate toward the Tajima and Barudan brands. Meistergram is another brand I have seen, but not near as often as I used to.
Our regional Barudan rep has an office about three blocks from my old location. I have visited with them about used equipment a while back. Not something I wanted to take on at that point.
The always have good refurbished equipment for sale. Their website is http://www.schurke.com.
EDITED: 6 Dec 2004 by DATAKES
From: (*oo*) (EMBROIDBABE) [#4]
6 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 6 Dec 2004
There are many brands out there.
Barudan, Tajima, ZSK, Happy, Melco, Toyota, Inbro, Brother and a few more.
I personally own 2 Melco's and love them. My understanding is the Barudan is the cadillac of the industry. But, you have to measure which machine best suits your needs and your niche. You also need to keep in mind when shopping for an embroidery machine that the software that each company sells to "go with" their equipment isn't the only software that will work with their equipment. There again you need to figure out which embroidery software will best suit your needs.
Research, research, research!
Tammy
Threads of Distinction
From: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#5]
6 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 6 Dec 2004
I too have a Barudan and yes we love it. However, we will most likely be switching to Toyota single heads in the near future. Mostly for because we are on the road quite a bit with the horse shows and the Barudan is just too heavy. The Toyotas are 100 lbs lighter. After the last show and my husband and I had to move that machine by ourselves into the house and my husband is handicapped.... well that made up our minds that a lighter machine was a necessity.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#6]
6 Dec 2004
To: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#5] 7 Dec 2004
Rebecca,
OK, so we have weight as one consideration when choosing embroidery equipment. Makes sense.
Other than that, what separates the Barudan from the rest? We have one person suggesting reliabilty. I imagine speed varies from machine to machine?
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA
From: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#7]
7 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#6] 7 Dec 2004
David, Here are a few of the pluses with the Barudan
1. the Barudan can sew out the smallest of lettering and make it beautiful.
2. It is realiable - many Barudan users never even see a tech during the life of the machine.
3. It takes abuse - I should know since we haul ours all over the country.
4. It has one of the largest sewing fields on a single head.
5. It sews caps easily and wonderfully
I am sure I will think of some more later. We are keeping the Barudan, but it will be in the shop and not on the road any more. If we decide to get multi-heads, they will be Barudans as well.
Another consideration when purchasing a machine is whether or not it can be networked together with other machines to run as a multi-head. Right now the Barudan's can't be, but Toyota's can as well as Melco's Amaya. To give your shop more versitility, several single heads that can be networked if necessary is a huge plus.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8]
7 Dec 2004
To: ALL
Are embroidery machines meant to run "flat out" or does running at high speed compromise image quality?
I know that in the engraving world, (computerized-mechanical and laser) manufacturers sometimes advertise blazing engraving speeds, but the reality is, there's a balance between speed and image quality.
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA
From: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#9]
7 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8] 7 Dec 2004
From: JayBeeOz [#10]
9 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8] 9 Dec 2004
Hi David
We have an Embroidery/ Engraving shop in South Australia, and run a Single head Barudan & a 4 Head Barudan. They are built like tanks! My wife runs the embroidery side, whilst I do the engraving. She has on a few occasions had collisions between the presser foot and Hoop..no problems, grab the pliers and straighten the foot, and carry on. A couple of months back, she loaded all four heads, but didn't notice that one of the hoops was smaller than the stitch area of the design that she was doing. After a rather loud bang, I removed a needle that had been punched through the hard plastic of the hoop. (Actually I couldn't remove it, I had to snap it off, top and bottom and file it smooth! I think the heat it generated going in had fused the needle to the hoop). But after replacing the needle, the machine was restarted and away it went again. I have seen the same design stitched by a Melco, Tajima & Barudan without any design tweeks, and the Barudan won hands down. Also the Cap frames of the (new) Barudan are much easier to use.
John
From: Liberty [#11]
10 Dec 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8] 10 Dec 2004
David,
We've been involved with embroidery for years. We've had Toyotas, have older EMT Melco single and multi heads and will buy either Tajima or Baradun in the future.
All embroidery machines use a look ahead table to regulate speed based upon stitch length. Our Melcos are advertised at 1000 SPM but reality is they average about 750 for the typical design and for longer satin stitches they will slow down even further.
If the machines are well maintained and adjusted and if the designs are properly digitized to be machine friendly then let 'em fly.
Someone mentioned the flexibility of multiple single heads versus a multi head. Let me interject one thought along this line. While there may be some total output advantage to several single heads over a multi head, keep in mind what I call the "Chaos factor." If you have one operator trying to keep up with four or more single heads there is no way to maintain a rythmn. By this I mean that if an operator is running a multi head they can settle into a rythmn of hooping, trimming and changeover. When running multple singles it is very stresful trying to find that rythmn.
Buy the machine that matches your typical order size. Larger orders call for larger machines.
From: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#12]
10 Dec 2004
To: Liberty [#11] 10 Dec 2004
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#13]
10 Dec 2004
To: Liberty [#11] 11 Dec 2004
Mark,
Thank you for the very informative post.
Until these recent discussions, I knew very little about embroidery.
Now, I'll be able to speak semi-intelligently, if the topic comes up amongst friends :-)
I can relate to your multi-head scenario. I have two engraving machines that I sometimes use to "gang up" on a volume order.
Gets the work done in a hurry, but it's not a pace I'd like to keep up for a long stretch of time.
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA
From: Liberty [#14]
11 Dec 2004
To: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#12] 11 Dec 2004
Sunny,
There is always a need for a single head in any embroidery shop be it for personalization, sampling or small orders. We will run up to a 12 piece order on the single heads if the larger machines are tied up. Then again, when the large orders dry up we don't hesitate to turn off a few heads and use the four head as a single. (or two or three)
There are a lot of good used multi heads out there. We have one four head that we bought used 6 years ago and the only down time it has ever suffered has been the result of operator error. We paid about half the cost of new and the cost per head was a fraction of that for buying two or three new single heads. Once you are proficient at maintaining a particular brand of machine I would definately consider a used multi-head.
The new SWF six head that gives you the ability to run it as two three heads looks interesting although I've never been impressed with SWF. They are very noisey and we're in a retail environment where noise is an issue.
Mark
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15]
11 Dec 2004
To: Liberty [#11] 11 Dec 2004
Hi All,
This thread has piqued my interest, and I have been following intently. One question however is how much does a Barudan or other machine typically cost new?
Thank you
Chuck Burke
Pacific LaZer Works
Maui
From: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#16]
11 Dec 2004
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 11 Dec 2004
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#17]
11 Dec 2004
To: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#16] 11 Dec 2004
Thanks Rebecca,
Wow, what fun. More money to spend. Maybe. Someday. We'll see. Thanks for the info.
Chuck Burke
Pacific LaZer Works
Maui