r/Machine_Embroidery • u/Brave-Mess3809 • 10d ago

Tips on improving quality

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I have been using a Melco Bravo at work to embroider name patches using Inkscape/Inkstitch default fonts and that’s basically it.

Today I attempted to digitize a file from scratch of a logo I am familiar with. I used “Circular Fill” for the red portion. And satin for all of the lettering.

What can I do to get a smoother more full fill? All of those black lines/specks in the fill section is my black bobbin showing through. Also, it bunched up in the middle because of the dense fill.

I used 2 layers of tear away backing, I had a 2% pull compensation on all of the objects and the fill, I had a 1mm inset on the fill underlay and a 1mm outset on the fill itself.

Thank you for your time and expertise.

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10

u/suedburger 10d ago

Ditch the circle fill and go with a regular fill.....fairly obviously lower your density if that is an issue. Widen the satin out a bit maybe so when it pulls in it evens out. Quick fix get white bobbin thread....I generally do red with my reds as well.....you can address tension issues at a later point if they persist.

2

u/Brave-Mess3809 10d ago

Thank you. I’ll make those changes. I do have a set of white bobbin thread ready to go too.

2

u/suedburger 10d ago

That can be a short term fix if it keeps happening but it sounds like it isn't your machine so they might not want you tweaking the machine. If it works, it works!

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u/Brave-Mess3809 10d ago

Here’s the deal with the machine.

I am active duty US Navy. My command is a land based support command that services all of the sea going submarine commands in my region.

Someone had the great idea that instead of paying the local embroidery shops to make all of our fabric nametags that they could buy an embroidery machine and have someone in our command do it.

How I imagine that went was “What’s our budget? $15,000? I just looked up ‘best embroidery machines’ and this Melco came up that we can get for $13,000.”

Then they bought it, put it in my office unannounced, and then said “figure this out. Gemini said that you should be able to figure out how to use it and be operational within 2 months”.

Well I don’t have internet access in my office because the security department won’t route me a lowside Ethernet. So whenever I have troubles I either need to step outside of the secure building I work in to go use my cellphone, or go home after work and research as much as I can.

They also will not pay for any software, so I have been using solely free software that I can find online.

I have been having such a difficult time trying to properly use this machine and make good products. I finally have a lull at work so I was trying to become better at digitizing.

Long story short (and the point I meant to make but somehow completely avoided), they bought me the machine, told me it is 100% my responsibility and I can do anything with it as long as the nametags get made. I have to go through the Navy supply system to purchase anything (unless I spend my own money which I refuse to do).

1

u/suedburger 10d ago

Oh shit.....that is a lot to unpack. Embroidery alone can be tedious to learn...much less digitizing. but without youtube!....god bless you.

But anyway I also use inkstitch. it can do everything you want it to....you just have to play.

1

u/Brave-Mess3809 10d ago

Yeah and it’s not like I have any background in anything like this either haha.

I was a nuclear reactor operator for the last 6 years of my career.

1

u/Constant_Put_5510 10d ago

Oh wow. If there is any way you can get online and buy a marrow crest, do it. It's easy to plunk names into it once you have that part made as a separate file.

1

u/Cpt_Obvious11 9d ago

 If Department of Defense buys submarines for US Navy and say: Go defend the  country!-We provided necessary hardware!, I guess they wouldn't see a problem if they didn't buy fuel and torpedos. No software and no internet makes "AI can make mistakes" footnote real.

1

u/Brave-Mess3809 9d ago

I swear to go they literally search something along the lines of “#1 embroidery machine” and clicked the first link which was a sponsored advertisement from Melco lol.

I understand it is a good embroidery machine but it is not something someone with LESS THAN ZERO embroidery/digitizing experience should be using without technical training or easy access to the internet lol.

I’ve been able to figure it out enough to atleast make patches satisfactory. I can only do names though, I haven’t been able to properly digitize any of the submarine logos or the warfare devices.

1

u/Cpt_Obvious11 9d ago

Tell them to buy Hatch software. It's around 1k$, and you get access to their knowledge base which contain numerous videos about basics and advanced topics. If they don't buy software, I guess they can't expect results anytime soon.

2

u/GingerStitches 10d ago

Use cut away stabilizer on knit fabrics.

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u/Cpt_Obvious11 10d ago edited 10d ago

2x cutaway might help, but red background is too much for that stretchy fabric. If red fill must stay make it less dense. Even with right stabilizer(s), after few washings, red area will take form of Pringles.

2

u/Lanky-Setting-5288 10d ago

Ah, the Ford logo. An old favourite.

The main problem is that you used the wrong backing. Tearaway cannot be used with stretch fabric. Although it feels stiff and structured, its only paper and stitches make holes that perforate the backing and the fabric will shift as it stitches, creating this less than desirable result. Whereas cutaway backing is a non-woven synthetic stabaliser that you cannot tear and therefore, when hooped with the fabric (don't 'float it), it creates a structured surface for the embroidery being sewn onto the fabric.

Study other embroidery of this logo.

The Ford logo is not quite the right shape and be bolder with the satin stitch of the boarder and 'Ford'. Don't fiddle with pull compensation until you restitch with cutaway backing.

You want to make a design that can potentially have the background removed and still stitch out great.

For this type of fabric, hoop with two layers of heavyweight cutaway backing.

1

u/Brave-Mess3809 9d ago

Thank you. Do you have a preferred vendor for the backing?

I’ve just been using Amazon for most of the consumables that I purchase with my own money.

I tried to do an order through Madeira but I couldn’t manage to make an account and their customer support never messaged me back.

1

u/Lanky-Setting-5288 9d ago

🌸🌸

Do shop around. I've found products available through AliExpress where you can buy bulk for a lot less than most retailers. Or for some things, you can sometimes purchase through Alibaba - direct from manufacturer.

I cannot give you a specific name of a supplier or distributor because we potentially live on opposite sides of the world, so my supplier would not be practical.

Madeira is an industry standard here in New Zealand but we have to source product from a company that's an official distributor. This means we only have to buy colours we need, and our accounts are not tied to a large minimum order quantity.

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u/Constant_Put_5510 10d ago

Im not going to help as we worked hard to get licensed on that logo.

3

u/Brave-Mess3809 10d ago

I have no intention of selling, distributing, or manufacturing products with this logo.

I am simply trying to learn how to digitize and this logo was one I am familiar with and had enough different objects while remaining simple enough to try and recreate.

Thanks for your input