Barbara, I use the method of "whatever I have around" and "trial and error". I think the jackets I've done were poly/nylon, or poly/ cotton. blends. I've used tearaway, cutaway, no backing. I usually use a 75 sharp. Gosh I wish I could help more. I think sometimes I just have dumb luck..I've had my 4 machines a year, and just took delivery of 4 more of the XT models. I'm still very new at embroidery. Good luck, at least the demons seem to only effect the nylon jackets and not your other jobs.. Cheryl Rotter Team Sports Ink 5111 Grumann Dr. Ste #1B Carson City, NV 89706 775-884-3550 -----Original Message----- From: amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Avalon Embroidery Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 10:00 AM To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Cheryl, Boy I tell you, what a mystery! Last night we did an ampass test. I think it is 48 thousand stitches??? Ran perfect. This morning, We are sewing on cordura. (Patches that are going to be used on Kevlar sailing bags) With the same exact font I tried to run on the nylon jackets and it is running beautifully! The two jackets I need to sew on are hanging in my hall way. I get a bad vibe every time I walk past them! I think you're right, I think a little exorcism needs to take place here! What size needle and backing do you use when you sew on a nylon jacket? Could this be my problem? Backing and needles? Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: Cheryl Rotter <mailto:tsiemb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 10:05 AM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Barbara, I was having nasty thread breaks and the tech discovered a bunch of thread had wound itself on the spindle and cog wheel behind the thread roller ( in other words I had to remove the thread roller and look to the back area). I am just throwing out ideas. You have quite a mystery on your hands, maybe it's the ghost of Christmas Past...:) Cheryl Rotter Team Sports Ink 5111 Grumann Dr. Ste #1B Carson City, NV 89706 775-884-3550 -----Original Message----- From: amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Avalon Embroidery Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 6:51 PM To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Hi Cheryl the presser foot was adjusted to the fabric. I just can't figure it out. I just sewed out the same design on two pieces of backing with no thread breaks...and then sewed it out on fleece with no problem. But when I sew it on the nylon jacket its a total disaster. I know it is operator error, I just can't figure out what I need to do to do it right. Barbara Avalon Embroidery ----- Original Message ----- From: Cheryl Rotter <mailto:tsiemb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 5:53 PM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Barbara, I haven't read all the posts about your problem, but just wanted to ask. Is your presser foot all the way down? Cheryl Rotter Team Sports Ink 5111 Grumann Dr. Ste #1B Carson City, NV 89706 775-884-3550 -----Original Message----- From: amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Avalon Embroidery Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 2:57 PM To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket That is what I am going to do....I cannot get through a sew out without constant thread breaks. It is a nightmare! Thanks to you and everyone for all your help! Happy Holidays! Barbara Avalon Embroidery ----- Original Message ----- From: Body Cover <mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 2:38 PM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket I honestly believe it has to do with a timing issue. like someone mentioned earlier. I have and I think Aaron has too. Sewn through metal zippers and about 10 holes in my plastic hoop side and not broken standard needles, so density is an issue but it sounds like more than that. I might Call Melco and talk to a tech on the phone and maybe they can check some things out and find an answer. Good Luck Ron Vinyard Body Cover / Magic Stitches 1-888-435-0176 541-471-1504 fax 471-0427 420 SW H street Grants Pass, OR 97526 info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.bodycoverdesign.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Avalon Embroidery <mailto:avalonembroidery@xxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 2:03 PM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Well, I guess I still have not solved the problem with a different font because I am still getting thread breaks and yet another tip broken off my NEW titanium needles I just got the day before yesterday, but I do think that density is an issue because the spots where the thread and or needle breaks is a very dense part of the letter. What a pain the in the you know where. I am running another font right now and so far so good but I can't even stand to be in the same room as it sews out! I figure if I walk away and not watch, maybe things will go better......hey! its done and no thread breaks! maybe I am in luck! I have only been working on trying to figure this out for 5 hours now! ugh! Barbara Avalon ----- Original Message ----- From: Body Cover <mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 1:35 PM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Darn! I was hoping to here something glaringly wrong! Sounds good to me. I know that font sews down some small thin blocks at the point where certain parts of the letters overlap to keep the garment from showing through as the 2nd column pulls the threads back from the 1st column as they overlap, With the block sewn underneath it pulls back the column still but only shows the sewn block underneath making the separation not noticeable. I think they change in fonts is the best choice then once your job is done and your hair grows back you can try to decipher what the answer is. Good Luck Ron Vinyard Body Cover / Magic Stitches 1-888-435-0176 541-471-1504 fax 471-0427 420 SW H street Grants Pass, OR 97526 info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.bodycoverdesign.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Roland R. Irish III <mailto:signman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 1:08 PM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket I've run into problems before with fonts-at smaller sizes things do go haywire-its trying to sew too many stitches into one area-around a curve in the serif, etc.-that give you ulcers. Changing the font as you found helps, otherwise you have to go in and play with moving stitches, changing auto density, short stitches, etc. until it works. Okay for large quantity jobs but when you are only doing 1 or 2 items it's easier to switch fonts and tell the customer he loves it! Roland From: "Avalon Embroidery" <avalonembroidery@xxxxxxx> Reply-To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:36:19 -0800 To: <amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket speed was 600...... font density was the default of 4.5..........and I added a bit of column width (120%) needles were new 70/10 sharps - (titanium) and I was unable to go more than one to two letters before all hell broke loose. Now, I've switched to CooperDak font.....same speed, same density, same column width, same needles......no problems. weird. ----- Original Message ----- From: Body Cover <mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 12:24 PM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket What you haven't told us was the density you are using on that font at .4 high? and what speed is the machine running. Nylon is very tight and heats up a needle very quickly making for hot soft needles that bend and break easier. Let us know. Ron Vinyard Body Cover / Magic Stitches 1-888-435-0176 541-471-1504 fax 471-0427 420 SW H street Grants Pass, OR 97526 info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.bodycoverdesign.com <http://www.bodycoverdesign.com> ----- Original Message ----- From: Avalon Embroidery <mailto:avalonembroidery@xxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:09 AM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket scientific testing is now showing the FONT to be part of the problem. using CooperDak .4" letters sewing out RHS letters........all is well through 6 sewouts on the nylon. using Full Block .4" letters sewing out RHS.......the needle just busted on the H. All 4 needle breaks have been when using Full Block only. I'm starting to suspect a problem in density in the lettering of this font. ----- Original Message ----- From: Roland R. Irish III <mailto:signman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:11 AM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket When we get the 'shredding' we run a fingernail done the needle in question-and if there is a 'burr' you'll feel your finger tip catch on it...and that means your needle is hitting on something-either off center and hitting the needle plate, or your jacket is hanging off the table and pulled the hoop as the needle went through-and the needle hit the plate. Or someone repositioned the jacket as it was sewing or (I've done this) accidentally hit the hoop arm bending over to get something... doesn't take much at all to make that needle go sidewise, just a hair and it will hit the plate underneath and cause a 'burr' when the tip bends a little. That's what catches and unravels the thread but it keeps on sewing.... Roland From: "Avalon Embroidery" <avalonembroidery@xxxxxxx> Reply-To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 10:43:09 -0800 To: <amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Judy I'm getting "partial" shredding breaks......where it appears the inner core of the thread usually stays intact, but the outer "shell" gets all knotted up in the needle case area... ----- Original Message ----- From: OnleeJudy@xxxxxxx To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 10:31 AM Subject: [amayausers] Re: needles and thread breaks on nylon jacket Hi there. A couple of things to try...more backing, as nylon is very light, and sew slow....and depending on the type of thread breaks (clean breaks or shredding breaks), check needle alignment, and add or subtract MT. BEST WISHES!