Breaking the Code on Machine Issues vs. Embroidery Digitizer

There are scores of times when frustrated customers end up calling their digitizing service provider and straight off accuse them of any issues experienced during the production run. While it’s absolutely understandable that tight deadlines, work pressure and last minute problems can totally ruin your Zen, the fact remains that it’s always advisable to first identify whether the problem you’ve encountered is a machine issue or design concern.

Get the Prep Right!

Before we move into zeroing in on whether the issue you’ve come across is machine related or a design error, there happen to be a few pre-production checks that can really make life easy and reduce the chances of any interruptions during the run.

One of the first things to look into is registration. For flat surfaces, make sure that the design is hooped correctly. This means to use the right stabilizer and ensure that it is completely captured in the hoop, so as to keep the fabric taut but not stretched. You might also need to consider adding an extra backing for flimsy materials.

In case of hats or caps, you’ll have to be extra careful with registration, since some frames could fight you and you’ll need to use a few clips to hold the hat/cap in its place. It’s further advisable to use a needle plate specifically designed for hats in order to limit any flagging under the needle.

Whodunnit?

Now, coming down to the question whether the trouble you’re facing is because of the machine or your embroidery digitizer, here are a few tell-tale signs:

-If your design refuses to lineup, for instance a border around a fill, then a design adjustment is the need of the hour.
-In case the design falls way off, then you’d need to check the hooping.
-If your design suffers from bubbles or ripples against the center seam and ends up causing puckering, you’ll need to ask your embroidery digitizer to revisit the pathing.
-If you notice “smiles” or frowns” within a line of text on hats/caps, this is a machine issue and you’ll have to check the frame arms, hoop arms and ensure that the pantograph is moving freely.
-If frequent thread breaks are giving you a headache, then an investigation into the broken ends or circumstances could hold the clue. While a tuft at the end means you need to switch to better quality thread, breakage in the same spot means it’s a digitizing problem with stitches being too close together.
-At times, a false thread break has been known to be the culprit, where the machine goes ahead to unthread after a trim. This could happen in the same spot in the design, but still be a machine issue.
-If your thread ends up snapping or fraying anywhere in the design, you’re encountering a machine issue.

At times customers complain that a stitch file that has worked perfectly in the past has suddenly started spewing problems. In such a case, some of the most obvious questions to ask include whether the fabric has changed, is the thread brand or weight different, are the needles in perfect condition, have you hooped right? Just a few timely checks and a keen eye can help anyone diagnose production problems efficiently.

At Expressdigitising.com, we rigorously train every embroidery digitizer to offer the best customer aftercare for smooth production runs. With a highly skilled team ready to produce exceptional works of art for you, your brand or household, within a 5-24 hour turnaround period, we strive to deliver the most delightful experience at affordable pricing.
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