I'm looking for the right embroidery machine to start off with.

2ndNature

Hello,
I'm sure this is a very common question. I know exactly what I want to do with an embroidery machine and who my target audience is. I plan on embroidering nothing but hats. Flat Brim, Snap Backs, Fitted's, Beanies. Raised/3d embroidy capability is a must. Surface area capability is also important. I have a background in design with Adobe software, I have no experience with digitizing, but I'd like to learn the process. I plan on starting off with a single head unit, building my embroidery brand through social media then expanding to a multi unit. The question is, what is the best machine to start off with? How do I even buy a machine? Is there financing for new equipment available? Tajima and Barudan seem to be some of the most liked. What features should I be looking for? And where can I get training on the machine and software I decide to purchase? Thanks in advance.

Roca

Barudan or Tajima Tmar type 2 nothing else

2ndNature

Thanks for the answer. I'm looking for more in depth technical answers. Trying to wrap my head around these machine's and the process of using them. What is it that make's these brands best for embroidery on hats? What mechanically are the features I'm looking for and what am I looking for with the software. I'm open to any advice.

ltpemb

What is mechancially different about them...

Tajima type 2, Barudan, and ZSK embroidery machines all have similar features. Variable presser feet depth and timing, trimmed needle plate for getting extra height in the cap.

What mechanically makes them different from others, well their precision construction allows them to run faster/more reliably/and with significantly higher stitch quality than almost any other machine on the market. They usually have more precise alignment of needle bars and stiffer bars along with smoother needle driving mechanisms. This greatly decreases needle wobble and variance improving stitching that usually only experienced embroidery people can see but allows for unparalleled detail in the hands of a skilled operator.

As for specifics differences and strengths and weaknesses.
Tajima is expensive, and if you wanted to network it which helps in the long run. it has extra costs in liscensing and components which is annoying. That said Tajima is one of the most sold which usually mean parts and techs are easy to come by.

Barudan is usually considered the best for hats... That said they are not as widely used so sometimes information, parts, and techs are harder to come by.

ZSK (which wasn't meantioned) Is actually equal to both of them, Usually. Biggest upside is that it is a lot easier to network or connect to a computer to load files. Downsides, it only has 12 needles while the others have 15, and The hard part is finding tech support.

That said if you had a master digitizer give the same file to, a master operator for Tajima and a master operator for barudan, and a master operator for ZSK you would probably get nearly the same result. But it takes a lot for someone to become a master. (10+ years and a willingness to try/learn)

So yes they are the best machines. But you need the skill to use them to their best.

2ndNature

Thanks for that indepth answer Itpemb! I'm considering a Barudan because I plan on focusing on hats, and I have not read any complaints about their equipment during my research on these machines. My plan is to get myself a single head machine and learn with it, then expand to a 4 or 6 head machine. What is your opinion that? Is it wise to start off with a single head and upgrade? Also, If I do decide to purchase a single head, and then upgrade can the different machines be networked together?

I'm pretty confident with getting into embroidery. I taught myself illustrator, photoshop and how to screen print a few years ago and I'm comfortable with it now. I'm a technical hands on person and a logical thinker so I don't think learning the in's and out's or embroidery is out or my scope. I'd also like to learn digitizing. Do you have recommendations on how to go about learning this stuff? Does Barudan offer training courses? Or does anyone else offer weekend long schools for this trade?

2ndNature

Thanks for that indepth answer Itpemb! I'm considering a Barudan because I plan on focusing on hats, and I have not read any complaints about their equipment during my research on these machines. My plan is to get myself a single head machine and learn with it, then expand to a 4 or 6 head machine. What is your opinion that? Is it wise to start off with a single head and upgrade? Also, If I do decide to purchase a single head, and then upgrade can the different machines be networked together?

I'm pretty confident with getting into embroidery. I taught myself illustrator, photoshop and how to screen print a few years ago and I'm comfortable with it now. I'm a technical hands on person and a logical thinker so I don't think learning the in's and out's or embroidery is out or my scope. I'd also like to learn digitizing. Do you have recommendations on how to go about learning this stuff? Does Barudan offer training courses? Or does anyone else offer weekend long schools for this trade?

ltpemb

The answer to the starting with a single head then expanding is.... well No it usually doesn't work well if you are serious about doing it as a business. In other forums/topics I have written about this... Essentially single heads are a useful tool to compliment a multihead for special projects but are not Profitable enough to sustain or build a business on unless your doing it out of your bedroom. (think having a single platen 4 screen manual screenpress) If you are trying to add embroidery to an exsisting business than you need to jump in with both feet with a multihead or not at all. Especially with hats. If you were selling expensive jackets/shirts where you are making $30-60 profit off the apparel alone than single heads are profitable cause the shirt is where your profit is. When it comes to hats... blank hats are $4-$9 Retail and your only making 2-4 in profit... where as the work... 1 hat can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over 1 hour to run... (imagine pricing that)


Networking Barudan? Ummm sort of. Barudan has some networking options that are paid/or compatible with some softwares. Most of the networking options that are available... you wont need untill you have 4+ embroidery machines and have a staff where you need track-ability. Everything else is just about loading files without using a flash drive.

Honestly you are a lot like me so its not out of the scope of your ability to learn but you will have to pretend like you know NOTHING and it will take a long time to learn cause Embroidery does not translate to any other apparel production process experiance. I like to call it a "controlled destructive process" Hats are actually harder and usually take longer than polos as well. The vector art background will help you but outside of that... The closest analog to what digitizing is, its more like Creating a CNC file more than creating vector art. You have to think about order of operations and how each step effects the previous and the next step and how it affects the material and what the material will do with each step.

Often what I have heard for Large contract operations with 500+ heads, how they do training for digitizing/production.
They are looking to hire someone to digitize... once they hire that person they put that person on a machine and train them to run that machine, and have them run production for over an entire year watching the machine and how files run in relation to the material. After 1 year of training/operation they then move them to digitizing/artwork and work with someone till they master digitizing. (some people estimate 10 years before they master digitizing)

Barudan does some training but you will only retain the basics over a weekend of how to run the machine and less on the... perfecting/specific scenarios to use each setting/tool. Tips for going about learning it... Read and dig and read and dig.... There are paid training people out there (I do paid onsite training sometimes) but they are expensive. (500-1000 per day plus travel expenses) Soooo basically there is no EASY way too learn asside from time and effort

I do digitizing, Vector art, Embroidery, Tech support for embroidery machines (usually Brother industrial machines which are garbage btw), On site training and assesment and so on... Ummm...

ayugup

what is the best machine to start off with?
I recommend Barudan because that what everybody told me. Also when you run hats, run in medium speed

How do I even buy a machine?
Call Barudan - Robert Grundy

What features should I be looking for?
There nothing different in a embroidery machine. The machine you should buy is the machine which last long, and does the job done.

And where can I get training on the machine
Truly the best place is youtube videos.

software I decide to purchase
I only have tried hatch by wilcom and i also bought corel Draw x6 ( not x8) because of its compatibility, and i love the software.
From my Point of view, you are putting too much in your plate. Although i say go for it, i will say don't give up.
Just digitize regular things such as names, don't digitize if you don't have time.
There are many digitizers online
I have been embroidering since 2010, and I still don't know all the stuff.
You will learn as time goes on. If you have any Question, just ask in this forum.
I will be happy to help
Good Luck

ayugup

Also check this out, I haven't bought it yet
http://www.hooptechproducts.com/t/capframes

ltpemb

If you are planning on doing professional/production level embroidery I suggest Wilcom Embroidery Studio e3 or e4. Hatch is a good program but is meant more for small order/home user type work. Once you get to a certain point it actually holds you back a little bit because it isn't optomized for work enviornment production.

Wilcom Embroidery Studio is a full scale production software and comes with corel x6 with e3 and corel x8 with e4 because its built into the software as part of it. But more than that it is more optimized for business scale production where you might not be the one doing the production work.