¶ Introduction
The Digital Embroidery Machines (Melco EMT-16 Plus) in the Digital Textiles Lab is capable of translating your vector-based[1] designs into beautifully-embroidered pieces. Open Works has two in-house, as well as access to Design Shop Pro, which is Melco's own embroidery digitizing software.
¶ Shop Access
A membership or day pass is required to access Digital Textiles.
The Shop Safety Class Digital Emrboidery 1: Shop Safety is required to operate the Melco EMT-16 Plus.
- The shop safety class teaches users how to safely operate the Melco EMT-16 Plus. It also goes over how to use Design Shop Pro and Melco OS to create and execute your digital embroidery designs.
¶ Machine Reservations
You can make machine reservations in the following ways:
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- In person at the front desk.
- Reserve a machine any time through our Mind Body Portal.
- Call the front desk during business hours at (410) 862-0424.
- Email us at frontdesk@openworksbmore.com. Please include your name, the machine you'd like to reserve, and the date(s) and times of the reservation(s).
¶ Machine Overview
The Melco EMT-16 Plus is capable of embroidering patches, t-shirts, and hats based on the designs members create on the computer.
¶ Needle type(s)
The digital embroidery machine uses commercial needles. Open Works provides size 75/11 universal needles.[2] However, it is best practice to use the right size commercial needle for whatever fabric or material you are using.
Members may perform needle changes, but should return the machine to 75/11 needles when they are finished if they change any needles out.
¶ Thread type
The embroidery machine only uses threads designed for digital embroidery. Open Works provides a selection of digital embroidery threads for free. As it is a community resource, we ask that you please only use what you require.
¶ Stitch type
- Straight stitches in non-stretchy material
¶ Best for:
- Light to medium weight fabric
¶ Software
¶ Consumables
Open Works has stabilizer[3] available for sale.
| Tearaway stabilizer per yard | 8" x 8" pre-cut stabilizer sheet |
|---|---|
| $0.60 per yard | $0.15 sheet |
¶ Recommended Suppliers
- Allstitch.com
- Simthread threads
¶ Machines Available
- Open Works has two Melco EMT-16 Plus digital embroidery machines available for use.
¶ Machine Comparison Chart
| Machine | Stitch Type(s) | Fabric/Material Compatibility | Thread(s) to use | Compatible Needles | Needle Orientation | Bobbin spool type and diameter | Available Feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embroidery Machine (Melco EMT-16 Plus) | Embroidery | knits and light woven fabrics | DBxK | Scarf facing back, groove facing forward |  L Style |
||
| Long-Arm Quilting Machine (Bernina Q24) | straight stitches | light and medium weight wovens, quilt batting | standard domestic flat back needles | flat back needles only go in one way |  Class M Bernina |
#96 ruler foot with cup clip |
¶ Parts of the Machine
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¶ Material Considerations
¶ Acceptable Materials:
Hats
¶ Use with Caution and Proper Technique:
Canvas
¶ FORBIDDEN MATERIALS:
Any materials that will make the machine excessively dirty
¶ Safety and Setup
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Sturdy, close-toed shoes must be worn at all times.
• Long hair, jewelry, and loose clothing must be tied back.
• Ear protection is recommended when two or more machines in the lab are running at once.
For more information on shop safety visit Digital Textiles under "Safety."
¶ Step-by-Step Guides
¶ Before You Begin: Check that the machine is correctly set up and ready to go
¶ Bobbin Arm (holds the bobbin case)
- Did you remove the bobbin case and clean out the bobbin case?
- Did you clean out the bobbin case housing in the lower arm with compressed air?
- Did you check under the needle plate to see if there is any thread stuck? Use the tiny vacuum or compressed air to clean out this area. Or use a pair of tweezers to pull out any thread nests.
- Did you oil the rotary hook?
- Are you using the CORRECT pre-wound embroidery machine bobbins?
- The bobbins OW provides are located next to the computer
- If you are supplying your own bobbin, please only use pre-wound machine embroidery bobbins compatible with the Melco EMT-16 Plus
- Is the bobbin spool loaded into the bobbin case correctly?
- The spool should be spinning clockwise as you pull.
- Did you check the tension on the bobbin case using the tension gauge? It hould be between 150-190.
- Is the bobbin thread wound through the pig tail? Make sure to do this before loading the bobbin case into the bobbin arm and leave about 5-6 inches of bobbin thread hanging outside of the case
- Is the bobbin case loaded correctly? Did you hear a click when you loaded the bobbin case?
¶ Needles (Only do this for the thread colors being used)
- Are the needle bars oiled?
- Are your needles the correct type for your fabric?
- Are your needles sharp and free of burrs?
- Are the needles installed correctly and is facing 5 degrees to your right?
¶ Thread
- Have you loaded the threads you are using for your sew out?
- Are all the threads embroidery threads?
- Threading the Melco EMT-16 Plus
- Is the thread OUTSIDE the cones before it is loaded into the hose?
- Is the thread threaded properly all the way down to the needle?
- Are all the tension wheels in the down position?
- Did you toggle the front grabbers to lock the loose threads into the back thread bar?
- Did you trim the top threads and bobbin thread?
- Top threads should be snipped just above the bobbin arm.
- Bobbin thread should be snipped at about 5-6 inches.
¶ Hoop arm
- Are the hoop arms in the correct position for the hoop you are using?
- Are all four bolts tightened? (Always check between each sew out as they tend to loosen every time the machine is used.)
¶ Hoop
Hooping Project Onto an Embroidery Hoop
- Did you stack the fabric and stabilizer properly?
- Did you check if the fabric is not loosely hooped or hooped too tight?
- Is your project oriented the right way to prevent your design from being sewn upside down or on the wrong side of the fabric?
- Is the hoop loaded properly on the hoop arms?
- Is the hoop secured under the metal clamps and you heard a click as it locked behind the notches?
¶ Melco OS
- Is the correct machine selected?
- The machine numbers are taped on the sides of the machine, easily seen if you are sitting in front of the digital embroidery computers.
- Is the correct hoop selected?
- Did you set your desired speed?
- Machines are calibrated to run at 1100 but 750 is a good place to start.
- Did you assign your threads?
- Did you perform a design trace to make sure your design fits inside the hoop?
¶ Using the Machine
- Turning on the Melco EMT-16 and Starting Up the Embroidery Software SOP
- Running a File on the Melco EMT-16 Plus SOP
¶ Machine Maintenance
¶ Troubleshooting
¶ References
¶ General
- Melco Tech Knowledge Base
- Most up-to-date instructions and guides from the Melco Tech team.
- Stabilizers and Toppings
- Threads
¶ Design Shop Pro (version 11)
- Melco Design Shop Pro Help Page
- Learning Design Shop Pro 11 VIDEOS
- Digitizing Process Basics Playlist VIDEOS
¶ Melco OS
- Melco OS Help
- Actifeed Overview
- Videos:
¶ Melco EMT-16 Plus
- Melco EMT-16 Plus Technical Manual
- Videos for each step
- Machine Basic Setup and Loading Design
- Basic Hooping Tension and Technique
- Hooping a T-shirt
- Using the Mighty Hoop Freestyle Fixture to Hoop
- Changing upper threads - EASY
- Changing upper threads - HARD, NO THREAD IN MACHINE
- Adjusting the Presser Foot
- Changing a Needle
- Bobbin Threading and Using the Tension Gauge
- Attaching and Moving Hoop Arms
- Loading a Garment onto the Machine
- Tracing and then Sewing the Design
- Bobbin Tension Troubleshooting
- Thread Break Troubleshooting
- Using Laser Alignment to Align Design Placement
- Finishing a Garment
¶ Video Walkthroughs
¶ Resupply Form
Click here to report any consummables needing to be replenished within Digital Textiles
¶ Glossary
Vector: A type of 2-dimensional design format that uses equations rather than pixels to define an image. A vector can be scaled infinitely without loss of quality. ↩︎
Universal needles: A universal needle has a slightly rounded, sharp point with a tapered needle — midway between a sharp and ballpoint needle. ↩︎
Stabilizer: A piece of material that has been specifically designed to be used to provide support for embroidery ↩︎