I stitch all my hats around 500 -520 rpm MAX....too fast and the hat can move while the needle is still in the fabric causing your breaks....Hats are tricky...but once you get the hang of them they arent so bad.
GOOD LUCK
__________________ The Shirt Shak-TSS Grafx-TSS Sporting Goods...Gettin it done since 2001
Troy,
Try an 80 (Thicker needle). What happens, is that because a cap will flex and flag, the needle will deflect...right into the needleplate or the hook. A design that is too dense could also cause this to happen. Do your best to pull the cap tight in the driver so that there is less flapping of the surface. If you have a machine where you can adjust the pressor foot, make sure that you are in proper specs.
Ian
__________________ imprimeo! ....Digitizing, DTG and Embroidery..FREE Embroidery SOFTWARE Sierra Consultant, Stitch ERA Universal Dealer, Digitizing trainer for GUNOLD USA
Ok I will check on that stuff thanks...I slowed down to 450 and it is running so that is a plus. I does seem to always be like it breaks on the center seam.
Ok I will check on that stuff thanks...I slowed down to 450 and it is running so that is a plus. I does seem to always be like it breaks on the center seam.
What brand of hat are you running?...I run 70/10 needles on an SWF and the only breakage I get is when running a certain brand of 6 panel hat. Have you had this issue with other brands?
__________________ The Shirt Shak-TSS Grafx-TSS Sporting Goods...Gettin it done since 2001
I am running a variety of Otto Hats. I have ran 3 through now with no problem when running at 450, BUT I have 100 to do and it is a 6,000 stitch design...so it is going very slow.
I am running a variety of Otto Hats. I have ran 3 through now with no problem when running at 450, BUT I have 100 to do and it is a 6,000 stitch design...so it is going very slow.
Ouch...thats the brand I was referring to. The nylon webbing they use to make the hat wreaks havoc on needles....I'm sorry but its gonna be a tough haul. I have got to the point where I wont stitch some styles of Otto's.
__________________ The Shirt Shak-TSS Grafx-TSS Sporting Goods...Gettin it done since 2001
You might also want to try using titanium needles for the hats.. they are more expensive but they last longer and don't seem to break as much on hats. Using a size 75/11 needle instead of a 70/10 would also help.
We had a problem with 6 panel caps, some have heavy seams due to their use of internal webbing some don't. One of the things that we do is run a low density satin stitch over the front seam, this has helped in providing a flaat area for the embroidery and the seam then doesn't show in the fill area.
Our best move was to switch to 80/12 Teflon coated needles for all of our cap production. We switched to them and are able to run most caps/hats at 900 spm. The only time we slow down is with very small lettering/details, we avoid having these in the area of the seams.
Why does my needle keep breaking on hats? 
