A Beginner's Guide to Using Industrial Sewing Machines
If you’re looking at joining the sewing industry, it’s important that you have some level of understanding of the work that you will be undertaking, as well as a general overview of what is expected of you.
Whether you’re an apprentice looking for some industry experience or a graduate seeking your first industry job, you should have some idea of how industrial sewing machines operate and how they differ from the home machines that you have probably been practicing on.
As industrial sewing machines are something of a speciality of ours here at Stocks Sewing, here’s our short beginners’ guide to industrial machines, containing the need-to-know information for you to be able to jump right in at work!
Motors in Industrial Machines are Different
Industrial machines often have a choice of two motor types – a servo motor or a clutch motor. They are usually quite different to those found in domestic machines, and although they often fulfil the same purpose – they also require you to be able to know their differences to use them effectively.
Ultimately, it often boils down to which machine you have the most experience with or personal preference when deciding which is “better” – and if you’re about to get your first you might not have a choice of which type of machine you will be using, so it is best to have some experience and understanding of both.
Servo Motors
Servo motors tend to be extremely silent, even when working at full pelt. They have easy speed control and some automatic features. These machines are generally preferred by beginners.
Clutch Motors
Clutch motors also have speed control, but as this is controlled by using a foot pedal, it can be quite tricky to get used to and will take some time, but these machines allow the user to have greater control over their sewing. Once an individual learns how to use a clutch motor machine and is comfortable with the difference, they typically prefer it to the servo motor.
The main difference between industrial and domestic machines is that the latter usually has the motor encased in the head of the unit, whereas industrial units have their motors mounted separately. These are usually found attached to the table for ease of access should they need replacing, which can be quite tricky in domestic machines.
They Are Not Always for Heavy-Duty Projects
You may have heard that industrial machines are specialised for tackling heavy-duty sewing - such as tackling thicker, more niche materials and stitches - but this is not necessarily the case.
In fact, rather than specialising in specifically heavy-duty work, industrial machines specialise in a variety of different tasks. One machine may specialise in dressmaking whereas another may be more adept at working with thicker material.
This is why it is important that you understand what your machine is designed for before you start working – you don’t want to start a project on the wrong machine and realise when you are almost done that you could have done a much better job on a different machine.
Threading the Machine is Slightly Different
Changing the thread on your machine is an essential skill; you should understand how to successfully change it before you start sewing. Most machines will have a set of instructions on how to do this, so make sure that you are reading these, especially if you have never threaded a particular model before.
Although some manufacturers will have similar threading requirements, you need to be sure that you are doing it correctly, not only to keep your machine working properly, but to ensure that the quality of your work isn’t hampered by a poorly threaded machine.
The world of industrial sewing is a fun place to be, and if you are looking to set foot into such a fast-paced industry, we wish you all the best!
If you are looking for an industrial sewing machine suppliers for your next machine but don’t know where to start, feel free to get in touch with us here at Stocks Sewing today – we will be happy to help you find the best machine for your needs.
