Computerized embroidery

Draft

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Definition

Many modern sewing machines (including the ones for the home market) can be computer-controlled, either directly or by uploading files. I.e. we might distinguish models that are computer-controlled from computer-powered or both.

Typical mid and high-end home sewing machines are computerized or computer powered. In such home sewing machines “the computer directly controls several different motors, which precisely move the needle bar, the tensioning discs, the feed dog and other elements in the machine. [...] The computer drives the motors at just the right speed to move the needle bar up and down and from side to side in a particular stitch pattern. Typically, the computer programs for different stitches are stored in removable memory disks or cartridges. The sewing-machine computer may also hook up to a PC in order to download patterns directly from the Internet. Some electronic sewing machines also have the ability to create complex embroidery patterns. These machines have a motorized work area that holds the fabric in place underneath the needle assembly. They also have a series of sensors that tell the computer how all of the machine components are positioned. [...] The sewer simply loads a pattern from memory or creates an original one, and the computer does almost everything else.” Computerized Sewing Machines, retrieved 13:07, 15 April 2011 (CEST). With that kind of machines, a user can focus on design and the needs to learn how to interpret orders from machine like replacing the threads.

According to Wikipedia and other sources, the first modern day computer controlled sewing machine was built by Orisol in 1987 for making shoes.

Good sewing machines can both sew and stitch and some can quilt too. I.e. you get three machines in one. Design software exists in various form. Designs are both sold and also available as open "source". Converter software between various control formats exists.

Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about CNC and sewing machines. I probably will buy one for TECFA sometimes in the not so distant future. Might be a good tool to get young teenagers interested in 2D graphics and maybe even in some programming. Also, I could create cool EduTechWiki T-shirts ;) - Daniel K. Schneider 14 April 2011.

Computerized embroidery

More or less according to Wikipedia, the basic steps for creating an embroidery are as follows:

• Get or create a digitized embroidery design file
• Edit the design and/or combine with other designs (optional)
• Translate to machine executable code (optional)
• load the final design file into the embroidery machine
• stabilize the fabric and place it in the machine
• start and monitor the embroidery machine

Software and repositories

Disclaimer: None tested so far, therefore none we could recommend.

Design

Free design tools

• Embroidermodder. free software tool that allows the user to add custom modifications to their embroidery designs. Started in 2004 by Mark Pontius, last update on 11/2010 when last checked (15:57, 15 April 2011 (CEST)).

• Embroidery output extension for Inkscape by Jon Howell, 2010. GPL. Should be easy to install on Linux, needs python and the shapely library. (don't know for other platforms).

• Rudolf's Sewing / Embroidery related Programs (last updated 2005, not tested)

Commercial embroidery/stitching design tools

• BuzzTools sells a series of design tools, e.g. design management software. graphics to stitches, words to stitches, etc. (between $99 and 300)

• Bernina, the sewing machine company sells several products for their own machines. US link, Switzerland (de/fr). Prices unknown and fairly expensive. There is one free program ArtLink 6 (CH) / Artlink 6 (USA)

• Embroidery Software at Jenny's Sewing Studio (an on-line reseller)

• Stitch & Sew series of products.

• Embrilliance. A (relatively) cheap multi-purpose tool for converting/mergin/lettering etc. Supports most embroidery formats, but can't import "normal" 2D graphics. (Mac/PC)

File formats

There are several kinds of formats, in particular

• All sorts of 2D bitmap and vectore formats for the drawings
• Embroidery and sewing specific file formats
• Machine formats, that are mostly brand or even type specific
• Major machine formats that could be used as exchange formats

Design formats

• DST Tajima
• EXP Melco's
• FDR Barudan

Machine formats

• PES (Brother)
• ART (Bernina)
• VIP
• JEF
• SEW
• HUS

Conversion software

• WILCOM TrueSizer. Read and convert many popular industrial and home expanded/condensed file formats. Windows/Free. (registration required)

• Stitch & Sew multi-converter. (not tested, registration required)

Free repositories

• Needlework Russia (some free)
• AnnTheGran (some free)

Links

Sewing and embroidery websites

• Sewing.org has free sew, quilt and craft projects

Other links of links

• Embroidermodder has some good links (including broken ones, last update was 2004)

Introductions

Introductions to computerized embroidery

• Machine embroidery (Wikipedia)

Introductions computerized sewing machine

• Computerized Sewing Machines, at How stuff works (part 3 of How Sewing Machines Work)

Introductions normal sewing machine

• Flashback: Anatomy of a Sewing Machine, April 2007 in CRAFT Volume 03: by Christine Haynes and Kent Bell. (mechanical parts)

• How Sewing Machines Work at How Stuff Works (includes good animations)

Software

File formats

• Technical info about formats
• Embroidermodder has links to other pages
• Wotsit.org includes a description and a link for most somewhat popular computer file formats. (you will have to search for stitching/sewing formats).

Hardware

• Computerized Sewing Machines Reviews and Prices at products/how stuff works.
• The Best Sewing Machine Online. Explains some history, how they work and discusses various models (include some that are computer-powered or controlled).

Do it yourself

• Creating a computer-controlled sewing machine, Makezine, 2010.