Computer-controlled embroidery

Here we go. Yesterday I got ourselves some new hardware.

The basic steps for creating a computer-assisted embroidery are as follows:

• Get or create a digitized embroidery design file
• Load the design file into the embroidery machine
• Stabilize the fabric and place it in the machine
• Start and monitor the embroidery machine

Read more:

• Elna 8300
• Computerized embroidery
• Concepts of computerized embroidery
• Stitch Era embroidery software

Computerized embroidery machine in my office

Why did I buy this machine ? I like the fab lab idea and would like to create a tiny subset of such a lab. The first item I got over a year ago was the RapMan.

Computerized embroidery may be of interest to educational technology in several ways:

• Having students create designs will train them in design and in using design software. Design is important for our societies and should be taught more. Also, micro-fabrication will gain importance in the future and we should be ready for that.
• Subject-specific designs could be motivators in project-oriented classes (nature, science, political). I.e. the idea is to have students create designs that represent knowledge in various forms.
• Co-workers in an outfit that has such a machine could create identity-building designs.
• Embroidery could awaken interest for IT in people who otherwise just stick to Word and Facebook.

For myself, I plan to create academic embroidery (more later).

PS: This machine wasn't paid from our regular hardware budget, but from revenues from an adult training course

— Daniel K. Schneider (talk) • 22:15, 12 May 2011 • no comments