Why Machine Adjustments Matter
Over time, parts on a commercial embroidery machine experience normal wear and tear, or may shift out of alignment from heavy use. Adjustments like blade and picker alignment, head centering, needle bar depth, hoop assembly replacement, reciprocator replacement, timing, and belt adjustments help keep your machine running smoothly and your stitches looking perfect. These fine-tunes can correct issues like thread breaks, misaligned designs, skipped stitches, or unusual noises—preventing bigger problems and keeping production on track.
Adjusting the blade & the picker
- This first technique is used when you have to make a large adjustment to the trim blade.
- The machine will need to be on for both techniques.
- Loosen the four hex screws on the trim gear base with a 2.5 mm Allen key.
- Move the blade manually until you can only see just the tip of the movable blade under the fixed blade.
- Once in the right position and just the tip is showing, tighten the four hex screws.
- You will have to reposition the blue sensor as shown in the following technique.
- For smaller adjustments, adjust the blade by rotating the black serrated sensor gear until the blade is in the correct position.
- Then loosen the screw on the blue sensor and move the sensor until the red light turns on then tighten the sensor screw.
- This last step will need to be done for both techniques.
Replacing the reciprocator
Once you remove the machine head, you'll see the reciprocating and all the cams inside and how they all relate and work together. Typically you need to replace that every 10 to 15 years due to regular wear and tear, but you may need to replace it sooner if it gets damaged. Also, if it is not engaging on the needle bar, you'll know the reciprocating is worn out.
- Let's learn how to remove the reciprocating and install a new one. If it gets damaged, you will need to remove the machine head if you ever need to replace the reciprocator, before doing so. First, make sure you are on needle number one to needle number five to prevent damage when removing the head. First cut the threads underneath the metal clips and remove the thread.
- Then remove the two screws on each side of the take up lever cover and slide the cover off.
- Disconnect the cable.
- Then remove the two screws on each side of the tension knob. Cover of the head. Slide the cover off and place it gently on the thread rack.
- Use a needle to remove the two plastic plugs on the upper right side of the head of the machine. Take off the top knob of the panel arm to access the screw behind it, and remove the screw. Then remove the screw on each opening with a Phillips screwdriver and remove the plastic side cover.
- Next, make sure to turn off the machine to move the pantograph rail forward for the next step.
- Remove the knob on the bottom of the panel arm. Use a needle to remove all four plastic plugs on the right side of the machine.
- Remove all screws in the openings and remove the cover.
- Then remove the six plastic plugs on the left side of the head of the machine, and remove the screws in the openings. Remove the left cover.
- Last. Remove the four hex screws to be able to remove the head of the machine.
- To remove the head, grab the head with both hands. Lift it up slightly and pull it towards you. Behind the heads guide rail, there is a hex screw on the right and left side that connect to each side of the reciprocating shaft. Loosen both sides with a two millimeter Allen key.
- Use the pliers to move the right reciprocator shaft upward. Once it emerges from the top, pull it out with your hand. Repeat with the left reciprocator shaft.
- Now to remove the reciprocator. Slide it to the right. Turn it to an angle and pull it toward you. Now remove the presser foot driver attached to the bottom of the reciprocator by sliding it to the right to place the reciprocating back in. Attach the presser foot driver to the reciprocator.
- Line up the pin on the reciprocating to the shaft arm opening and the pin on the left side of the reciprocating to the presser foot. Guide rail. While you're placing the reciprocating push in the arm on the left side behind the reciprocator to pop it into place.
- Now we're going to place the left reciprocator shaft through the reciprocator and the presser foot driver.
- Make sure the flat side of the shaft is facing the top left to position it into place correctly. Then remove the two screws from the metal bearing stopper and remove the stopper.
- Then make sure the loose bearing on the bottom aligns with the shaft. Use pliers to get the bearing through the shaft if necessary. Keep in mind the bearing needs to be under the bearing stopper.
- Place the metal stopper back on and tighten the screws.
- Next, with your finger, push down on the top of the reciprocator shaft in the middle to flatten it and ensure the opening to oil the reciprocating is clear for maintenance purposes. Tighten the screw on the left side of the shaft with a two millimeter Allen key. Next, place the right reciprocator shaft through the opening with the flat side facing the top right.
- Flatten the shaft as done on the left side. Tighten the right screw with a two millimeter Allen key. Place the head back on with the color Change bearings Lining up with the color change cam. Line up the take up lever bearing in the center with the needle. Your machine is currently positioned to. In this case, it was needle number five.
- Line up the head so that it lines up with the lower head rail placement bar.
- Align the openings on the black guide rail with the openings on the front of the machine head. Use a three millimeter Allen wrench with a T handle to insert the screws in a cross motion.
- Line up the cover of the head with the take up levers, making sure the opening on the inside of the head are lining up with the openings on the cover. Insert the screws on each side.
- Retrace your steps to put the covers back on the machine.
- Now reinstall the top right cover on the machine.
- The screw on the back of this cover should be slightly longer than the others.
- Next, bring the tension knob cover back down and connect the light cable. Then place the cover in its place and insert the screws. Place the large cover on the left side of the machine back into place, and tap on it with the side of your palm to lock it into place. Then insert the screws on each of the openings with the Phillips screwdriver.
- Then place the plugs back in the openings.
Proper timing
- Set machine to needle Number one, then turn it off
- Remove the needle plate
- Remove the Bobbin
- Remove Bottom Rail and cover using 3mm Allen Key and Phillips Screw driver
- Remove the 4 Allen screws holding the top cover to the sewing arm.
- Rotate the rear Dial always clockwise twice around and stop when it gets to 195. Remember the dial number will face the Red Arrow.
- The Tip of the rotary hook should be just behind the needle and less than a 1mm away, about .25mm. The thickness of a sheet of paper.
- If the hook has not yet reached the needle, this timing is too early. If the hook is passed the needle, then it is too late and both must be adjusted.
- Loosen the three screws at the back end of the rotary hook with a medium size flat head screw driver. Rotate the Dial to access the screws. Leave the screw that is sticking out for last.
- While holding the rotary hook in place with your hand, rotate the dial in the back with the other hand to 195 degrees.
- Now that the needle is down, place the flat part of the tip of the rotary hook behind the scarf of the needle. The distance should be that of a sheet of paper. The hook should not touch the needle as this will cause needle breaks, and it should also not be too far away as this will not allow the machine to stitch.
- While holding the rotary hook in place with the left hand, Tighten the screw that is protruding with your right hand using a flat head screw driver first. Then rotate the Dial to get to the other two. Make sure they are tight.
- Put the covers back on with their corresponding screws.
- Replace the needle plate back on.
- Turn the dial to 100 degrees and turn on the machine.
XY Belt Adjustment
You will need to adjust your X and Y belt if you are experiencing registration loss.
X belt adjustment
The X belt moves the pentagraph left and right. If you have registration loss to the left or right of the design, you might need to adjust your X belt. Incorrect digitizing may cause this. To rule out incorrect digitizing we have a few calibration files you can run and test before taking apart the machine.
Click here to download the test file
- Remove all the screws from the pentagraph.
- Remove the cover and expose the X belt
- To check the tension, press the top belt and see if it easily touches the lower belt. If so, You might need to tighten the belt. The upper belt should not be easily lowered to touch the lower belt.
- To tighten the belt, loosen the set nut at the base of the tension screw, then tighten the screw until the desired tension is reached. Tighten the set nut to lock the tension in place.
- Replace the covers by reversing the steps you took for remove the covers from the pentagraph
Y Belt Adjustment
The Y belt moves the pentagraph front to back. If your image is loosing registration towards the front or back of the design, you might need to adjust your Y belt. Incorrect digitizing may cause this. To rule out incorrect digitizing we have a few calibration files you can run and test before taking apart the machine.
Click here to download the test file
*You will need to remove all the covers from the machine
- Use a needle to remove the two plastic plugs on the upper right side of the head of the machine. Take off the top knob of the panel arm to access the screw behind it, and remove the screw. Then remove the screw on each opening with a Phillips screwdriver and remove the plastic side cover.
- Next, make sure to turn off the machine to move the pantograph rail forward for the next step.
- Remove the knob on the bottom of the panel arm. Use a needle to remove all four plastic plugs on the right side of the machine.
- Remove all screws in the openings and remove the cover.
- Then remove the six plastic plugs on the left side of the head of the machine, and remove the screws in the openings. Remove the left cover.
- With the pentagraph pushed all the way back, Remove the inside covers
- Remove the plugs on the base of the machine both left and right, remove the screws, and remove the covers on each side.
- Remove the sewing arm covers. Refer to the timing video for instructions
- On the left side of the machine towards the front, you will see the tension assembly
- Loosen the two Allen screws
- loosen the set nut on the tension bolt
- Tighten the tension bolt to desired tension. Same as x belt tension.
- Repeat the same process for the right side
- Replace all the covers
Fix hook not in position
The hook may loose its position if it encounters a trim issue or it might need to be lubricated.
- To get to the hook, you will need to remove the 6 plugs and screws on the left side cover of the machine. You can use a needle to remove the plugs that cover the screws.
- To remove the cover lift up and out
- The Half Balck gear has a rod connected to it on one end, and a dog leg (FLAG) on the other. Next to the FLAG, you will see a small blue circuit board with a black sensor attached to it. The flag must pass through the center of the sensor. This lets the machine know that the hook is in the correct position.
- If the Flag is not going through the sensor, you can manually adjust it
- You can apply a small amount of grease on the connecting rod shaft that the gear is attached too if it lacks lubrication
- Push the trim button to see if it cuts ang goes back into place. If it does, you can put the cover back on and are done
- If not, you will have to adjust the gear stop reciprocator disengagement lever.
- With the gear in the correct position, loosen the silver screw and adjust the gear stop tab so that is touches the bottom of the black gear. Tighten the silver screw. Do not push on the lever while tightening it.
- Press the trim button to test and assure the hook is going back to position.
- You can now put the left cover back on and continue embroidering
Centering the head
- Cut all the threads
- Remove top front Cover by removing both screws on the sides
- Disconnect cable
- Remove the two plastic plugs with needle or something with a point on the upper right hand side of the machine and remove the screws
- Remove the Grey knob holding the monitor arm to access and remove the screw behind it
- Remove the upper right hand side cover
- On the left side of the machine, remove the six plastic plugs on the upper side cover, remove the screws, and take cover off by lifting up and out
- Remove the two 2.5mm screws using an Allen key on the black color change cover to expose the color change cam
- Use 3mm Allen key (Preferably T-Handle) to loosen set screws on color change cam. Rotate the gear next to the cam to reach the second screw set screw
- With both screws loose, you can now shift the head from left to right and line up the current needle to the center of the needle plate. One of the set screws should always be in the 12 o-clock or upper position
- Rotate the main dial clockwise once fully around then stop at 172 degrees
- Lift the presser foot slightly and make sure the needle is in the center of the needle plate opening
- If the needle is not in the center of the opening, tap the head left or right to adjust. Once centered, with the set screw of the cam in the 12 o-clock position, tighten the first set screw and recheck centration. If the cam did not move and the if the needle is still in the center, press the 100 degree button to raise the needle
- Rotate the black gear next to the cam and tighten the other set screw
- Place the cam cover back on assuring that the black positioning sensor on the blue circuit board is able to freely move left and right over the metal flag attached to the head. The metal flag will pass between the sensor as the head moves from one needle to the other. Use the 2.5mm screws to secure it. Rotate the black dial to move the head and assure the flag will not hit the sensor. Make adjustments if needed
- Now retrace your steps and put everything back together starting with the cam cover screws then the casing
Removing the head
- First, make sure you are on needle number one to needle number five to prevent damage when removing the head. First cut the threads underneath the metal clips and remove the thread.
- Then remove the two screws on each side of the take up lever cover and slide the cover off.
- Disconnect the cable.
- Then remove the two screws on each side of the tension knob. Cover of the head. Slide the cover off and place it gently on the thread rack.
- Use a needle to remove the two plastic plugs on the upper right side of the head of the machine. Take off the top knob of the panel arm to access the screw behind it, and remove the screw. Then remove the screw on each opening with a Phillips screwdriver and remove the plastic side cover.
- Next, make sure to turn off the machine to move the pantograph rail forward for the next step.
- Remove the knob on the bottom of the panel arm. Use a needle to remove all four plastic plugs on the right side of the machine.
- Remove all screws in the openings and remove the cover.
- Then remove the six plastic plugs on the left side of the head of the machine, and remove the screws in the openings. Remove the left cover.
- Last. Remove the four hex screws to be able to remove the head of the machine.
- To remove the head, grab the head with both hands. Lift it up slightly and pull it towards you.
Needle bar depth adjustment
Incorrect needle bar depth can mimic bad timing. If you are having issues with all the needles then it may be your timing. If you are only experiencing skipped stitching on one needle, then it may be your needle bar depth. To check to see if the needle bar depth is correct proceed to steps 5, 6, and 8. Skip 7.
- On your panel, Select the needle or color you are having trouble with
- Cut and remove all the threads just above the take up levers
- Remove the four screws from the sides of the take-up lever cover
- Pull cover forward slowly and disconnect the light cable and remove cover
- Open the bobbin door and remove the bobbin and bobbin case
- Rotate the main shaft dial clockwise one full time around then stop at 172 degrees. The needle will lower into position
- Using a 2.5mm Allen key, loosen the lower dead end point screw. (DO NOT REMOVE THE SCREW-ONLY LOOSEN IT)
- Place the flat side of a 6mm Allem key inside the rotary hook over the center post to act as a gauge between the post and lowest position of the tip of the needle which should be 6mm.
- Lower the needle bar until the tip of the needle touches the Allen key and while holding the needle bar down, tighten the lower dead end point screw with the 2.5mm Allen key
- Now loosen the two upper dead end point screws with a 3mm Allen wrench and slide the upper dead end point stopper to lowest position
- Rotate main dial clockwise to 360 degrees. This will automatically adjust the upper dead end point stopper
- Tighten the two screws of the upper dead end point
- Press the 100 degree button to reset the needle
- Press the trim button to assure the reciprocator engages the needle and moves the needle down then back up again
- Connect the cable of the take up lever cover and secure it back in place with the four screws.
Replacing the hoop assembly
- First, make sure you are on needle number one to needle number five to prevent damage when removing the head. First cut the threads underneath the metal clips and remove the thread.
- Then remove the two screws on each side of the take up lever cover and slide the cover off.
- Disconnect the cable.
- Then remove the two screws on each side of the tension knob. Cover of the head. Slide the cover off and place it gently on the thread rack.
- Use a needle to remove the two plastic plugs on the upper right side of the head of the machine. Take off the top knob of the panel arm to access the screw behind it, and remove the screw. Then remove the screw on each opening with a Phillips screwdriver and remove the plastic side cover.
- Next, make sure to turn off the machine to move the pantograph rail forward for the next step.
- Remove the knob on the bottom of the panel arm. Use a needle to remove all four plastic plugs on the right side of the machine.
- Remove all screws in the openings and remove the cover.
- Then remove the six plastic plugs on the left side of the head of the machine, and remove the screws in the openings. Remove the left cover.
- Last. Remove the four hex screws to be able to remove the head of the machine.