How Embroidery Machine Speed Affects the Emroidery Results

In addition to production, embroidery machine speed affects the quality of your design. You’ll have a diverse range of machine speeds to pick from depending on whether you’re using a home embroidery machine or a commercial embroidery machine, but this does not imply that the quality will be the same at all embroidery machined speeds for all types of embroidery projects.

The number of stitches your machine can make per minute determines your embroidery machine speed. Increasing the speed could produce machine embroidery designs of poor quality. This is true, for example, for detailed and intricate embroidery designs, where increasing the machine’s speed frequently produces twisted and puckered machine embroidery.

All commercial embroidery machines can slow down and speed up with recommended operating speeds, and the majority of manufacturers of embroidery machines for home use make machines that can be adjusted in speed. These modifications are made in order to take positioning, thread type, fabric type, and other factors into account

Embroidery machine speed refers to how quickly an embroidery machine can stitch a design. It is generally measured in stitches per minute (SPM). However, the embroidery machine speed can vary depending on the machine’s brand, model, and features.

The embroidery machine speed can affect the time it takes to complete an embroidery project. Faster machines can complete designs more quickly, which can be advantageous for commercial embroidery businesses that need to produce large quantities of machine-embroidered items within a short time frame.

However, an embroidery machine’s speed also affects the quality of the stitching. The thread tension may become inconsistent when the machine stitches too quickly, causing thread breakage and other stitching problems. Therefore, choosing an embroidery machine with a speed that suits the user’s skill level and the complexity of the design being stitched is important.

Generally, modern embroidery machines have a speed range of around 400-1200 SPM, with some high-end models capable of stitching at even higher speeds. The speed of an embroidery machine can usually be changed to suit the user’s choice and the requirements of the design being stitched.

The machine embroidery speed requirements can vary based on factors such as thread width, material, fabrics used, type of embroidery, and embroidery digitizing.

The Type of Embroidery:

Some types of embroidery, like free-standing lace, require less tension and can be ruined by high machine speed, resulting in irregular pieces or distorted embroidery.

Thread Type & Quality:

You may need to change the machine’s speed to allow for the least amount of thread breaks or nesting depending on the embroidery threads you’re using, whether they are wool, acrylic, cotton, a heavy thread, or a more delicate thread. For example, polyester threads are more reliable, strong, and less likely to break.

In contrast, Rayon thread is a synthetic fiber made of wood cellulose, making it challenging to work with despite its attractive appearance. Old or out-of-date threads also break more easily than cheap, inconsistent threads. Do not forget that threads do have a shelf life. Remember that threads don’t live very long in dry, hot, or humid settings before putting your threads somewhere unsuitable.

Fabric Type:

You need to make changes in the embroidery machine speeds for each fabric. For example, you’ll need to slow down your machine if you’re embroidering on thick materials like leather and vinyl or on very thin fabrics that have the tendency to pucker. The chance of puckering increases with machine speed since you will feel more drawn to the tension. This probability is increased for particularly thick or very light fabrics.

For fabrics like silks, nylons, tulles, and similar materials, gentler running is necessary. When stitching with a slower operation mode, less tension will be created, allowing the fabric to lay more naturally and reducing puckering in your machine embroidery designs.

Push & Pull Compensation:

Push and Pull compensation is the major feature of embroidery digitizing software that adds a tiny amount to the overall size of the item to be stitched. These items generally consist of long stitches or large tatami fills that, when sewn out, start to pull the object out of shape. The larger item makes up for the shrinkage of many stitches facing the same way, but it does not cause the machine to “stitch looser.”

Pull and push issues worsen when the machine is rushed because more energy is expended on the stitching. When you carry a rope while moving back and forth between two rows of trees, the stress is quite consistent, and the rope lays down.

Embroidery Machine Type:

All commercial embroidery machines are designed to speed up or slowdown in accordance with production demands, and many home embroidery machines feature adjustable speeds. These modifications are helpful for various embroidery projects that call for different stitching rates. In addition, some industrial equipment is designed to support high-speed, reliable production.

When your embroidery machine speed is too high for the embroidery type you’re doing, it can result in skipped or missed stitches. If your machine skips stitches, it may be because it is operating too quickly and doesn’t have enough time to rest before moving on to the next stitch. On the other hand, a too-high speed can cause the needle to veer off course and miss the hook.

Stitch Width:

The width of the stitch is another important aspect that can affect the embroidery machine speed. Because broader threads produce more movement on the frame, and if they go wider, the machine will automatically slow down based on the width of the stitch, you will need to slow down your machine when using thicker threads.

Embroidery Digitizing:

And last but not least, embroidery digitizing is the most important aspect that rules how fast your machine can run. So, it’s a major fact that a well-digitized machine embroidery design will always give you better results.

Generally, most machines stitch embroidered designs at 600–750 stitches per minute. It will take a lot longer to embroider a pattern if there are numerous color and trim variations. All of these pauses make embroidery take longer. Embroidery digitizing reduces stops. An ordinary embroidery stop can take 6 to 20 seconds, just to give you an idea. Poorly digitized designs often have dozens of pauses, which significantly lengthens the production process.

Good digitization significantly impacts production time, and employing well-thought-out designs has a substantial impact. The fewest stitches, trimmings, color changes, and other elements have produced a thoughtfully digitized design. If you plan to duplicate the design or use it frequently, expertly digitized designs will save you more money than the cost of buying the file.

Here are some advantages that you can avail by choosing the right speed for your embroidery machine.

Longer Life Span of the Embroidery Machine:

Care for the maintenance of your embroidery machine will prevent you from an unneeded costly purchase, and that would be done when your embroidery machines are operated at the correct speed and are less likely to experience mechanical problems or wear and tear. As a result, the machine’s lifespan is extended, leading to a better return on investment.

Less Needle Breaks:

You are less likely to suffer from the needle plunges into the fabric, and the rotating hook passes by picking up the thread on the backside of your needle with selecting the right speed for your machine embroidery. Although some of this may result from machine changes, it is clear that a small amount of deviation is brought on by speed when multiplied by hundreds of stitches.

Productivity Enhancement:

When an embroidery machine is set at the right speed, it can improve machine embroidery design productivity by reducing the time it takes to complete a design. This can result in more embroidery designs being produced within a shorter period, thereby increasing the overall output of the business

In conclusion, setting the right speed of an embroidery machine is essential to achieving high-quality machine embroidery designs, increasing productivity, reducing operating costs, and enhancing operator safety.

What is the recommended machine speed, you might be asking yourself right now? It depends, just like everything else in machine embroidery. For common possibilities, a safe bet for normal fabrics would be between 600 and 700 SPM. If you want a nicer outcome, work at a slower tempo. If you don’t need to produce 1000 hats at once, why not take your time and get the stitching right the first time?

As much as possible, lighter materials like lace or netting, silks, and light nylon slow it down. The amount of force and energy infused into the thread is just excessive, wadding up the fabric. Vinyl and leather are comparable; be cautious when using those materials because you cannot re-stitch them.

Moreover, what you are stitching is another factor to take into account when deciding on machine speed. When the embroidery machine is slowed down, lettering and details perform significantly better. Testing is really the only way to determine what pace works best for you. You will learn what your machine enjoys and make adjustments as necessary.

In conclusion, the speed of an embroidery machine plays an important role in determining the quality of the final embroidery results. It’s not just about how fast the machine can run, but also about finding the optimal speed for different designs and materials to ensure precision and consistency. Factors such as machine capabilities, thread tension, digitized design quality, stabilizer usage, and fabric type all contribute to achieving the best results.

If you’re looking to digitize your artwork, don’t hesitate to contact DigitEMB. Our expert team can transform your designs into digitized masterpieces, ready to be embroidered with precision and finesse.