Welcome to the group. I don't know anything about Hoop-Tech. We use the handeyeruler system as much as we use our All-in-One hooper so I can't help you there. But, to answer your question about lettering, Melco has a lettering guide CD that can help. Just make sure you don't stretch the fabric and follow the recommendations for each alphabet. (Embroiderers call them alphabets which makes no sense to me when other disciplines call them fonts and typefaces.) I know you said you don't like sticky backing, but if you have not had a chance to use Fast Frames, make the leap. Although you do use sticky backing, it is quick, versatile and does a good job in certain applications. I recently did 50 shirt sleeves using just the Fast Frames and had zero problems. Be sure to take the training Melco offers new owners, if you haven't already. You paid for it in the price of your machine. I think most of your questions will be answered. Their staff is experienced in embroidery as well as the theory and technical sides. Your salesman can give you the names of Amaya/Melco owners running their own businesses who volunteer to be mentors. If you ain't having fun you are doing something wrong. This puppy sews at 1400 stiches per minute without breathing hard and does excellent work. It is my experience that problems come from improper hooping, backing or something else. On a recent job my Amaya sewed 2 inch letters at 1400 spm and did an excellent job. That is about twice as fast as a bridge machine will do and almost 5 times the speed of your old Viking. I may be a bit effusive, but this is more fun than putting sox on a rooster. Jack Fuller -----Original Message----- From: O'Connor & Co. Custom Embroidery [mailto:oconnorco@xxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2003 10:22 AM To: amayausers Subject: [amayausers] HoopTech icTCS1 on the Amaya Update- Since trying to post the message below (we weren't signed up yet), I did some research through past archives of the list and found helpful comments related to small lettering and some confidence builders as far as the Amaya's capabilities. I would still welcome any tips from folks using the Hoop-Tech clamping system, as it seems to me: if you do something wrong, it could wreak havoc on the machine. Thanks..... Hello- Does anyone on the list have experience with the Hoop-Tech clamping hoop system and using it with the Amaya? I am relatively new to all of this, but I do know that I don't like 'sticky'. So the clamping arrangement seemed to make better sense to me. However, I was already frustrated with small lettering, and this has taken me to a new level! We need to do small flags on sleeves and a website/telephone number on the yokes of some work shirts and it is driving me crazy... Sincerely, David & Lisa O'Connor O'Connor & Co. Custom Embroidery Westerville, OH --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: amayausers-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For additional commands, e-mail: amayausers-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx