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homesteademb · June 24th, 2008

yea, this is true, but i work nights every now and again at my main job and it allows me to take it to work and use it. we thought long and hard before we purchaced the second dongle.

deChez · June 25th, 2008

A commercial machine (an SWF for example) will not be all that much more. Plus, you can lease a commercial machine and keep your cash for other supplies and equipment.

You don't necessarily have to buy the big software package, or the package that the machine dealer offers. Look around. Most of the big guys make a smaller version of their software. For example, Pantograms has Forte for the commercial market, and Fancyworks for the home market.

I wish I had started out with a smaller, less expensive "home" software so that I would have a better feel for what I needed before making a big investment.

One other thing...when I bought my SWF 1501C (which is, by the way a great machine), I bought new. Knowing what I know now, I would not be afraid to buy used.

jgabby · June 26th, 2008

I bought 2 second hand TOYOTA AD 860.
I am really really really happy with them. 2 machines in my shop for the price of 1 new very reliable...

But embroidery is not my primary business.

chipolaink · July 10th, 2008

Does anybody know anything about the Prodigi machines?

speshl · July 10th, 2008

I started out small with the PR600, I struggled and struggled. At that time I paid close to $10 k for the softwear, and extra hat hoop. I hated the machine. I finally bought a Toyota 9100 last year, and I LOVE IT! I wondered why I did not do it sooner. I love the 270 for the hat hoop, I bought the flat frames, and a hat clamp for the back of hats, it cost me $14 k. I have 15 colors of thread to use, not 6 like the pr600, the toyota is made by Tagima (spelling) and they are a rock solid machine. I actually do more work.

Plus look at the sftware, the PR600 as well as the babylock, same machine, there software is not really ment for commercial use. When I bought the IDS, it really opened up a bigger world. Also if I can't do the digitizing I send it out, I have a company in China that charges $1.50 per thousand and I have it back the next day. I did not sit there for hours stressing out to make it look right. They are GREAT! I have picky customers.

I lost $6000 dollars on my PR600, thank goodness I wrote a lot off on taxes. So you need to decide if this is something you want to do for some time, if so, invest in a better machine. You will be much happier. I know I am.

Good Luck!

Dona

mardiv · July 10th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpr trends


	I got a quote for the babylock bmp8, which includes all the hoops , the stand, warranty, and free training all for $7900, is that a good price? thanks

I don't know if this matters to you and your business but with the babylock, if you use it for business rather then personal, the warranty does not apply if you have a business. Not sure how they'd know but that is how we ended up with our BROTHER vs. the Babylock (same machine I was told) just with the commercial warrenty.

If you are in Ca. I will tell you where NOT to go get your machine, just IM me, I don't know if I am allowed to say here.

good luck!

BML Builder · July 10th, 2008

I started out with the Brother home machine and within a year I was looking for a commercial machine. I bought the Amaya machine when they first came out. Two years later I added a second one and two years later traded both of them up for their new XT Amayas. I want to say that the one machine with the Design Shop Pro Plus software and frames was only about $15,000. I have really loved the Melco machines. The greatest thing about the Amayas is the fact that they do not have tension knobs. My brother was in the shop too many times getting the tension adjusted. With the Amayas they have what they call Acufeed which has an automatic tension feed. It is great and they are also faster than most of the other machines. I also like the fact that they are made in the US. When you buy the machine they give you 2 days of free training and with the software they give you 3 days of free training. So we went for a weeklong training on both the machine and software. Plus they are available most of the time with technical support and more training if you want it. We have not had to use the technical support very often but have never had a problem getting help whenever we did need it. And so far we have never had to have the machines serviced by a tech. We just do the regular maintenance that the machine tells you that it needs whenever it is time and the machines have run like champs!!!

chipolaink · July 10th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BML Builder


	I started out with the Brother home machine and within a year I was looking for a commercial machine. I bought the Amaya machine when they first came out. Two years later I added a second one and two years later traded both of them up for their new XT Amayas. I want to say that the one machine with the Design Shop Pro Plus software and frames was only about $15,000. I have really loved the Melco machines. The greatest thing about the Amayas is the fact that they do not have tension knobs. My brother was in the shop too many times getting the tension adjusted. With the Amayas they have what they call Acufeed which has an automatic tension feed. It is great and they are also faster than most of the other machines. I also like the fact that they are made in the US. When you buy the machine they give you 2 days of free training and with the software they give you 3 days of free training. So we went for a weeklong training on both the machine and software. Plus they are available most of the time with technical support and more training if you want it. We have not had to use the technical support very often but have never had a problem getting help whenever we did need it. And so far we have never had to have the machines serviced by a tech. We just do the regular maintenance that the machine tells you that it needs whenever it is time and the machines have run like champs!!!

I've never heard of this machine. I've been researching commercial embroidery machines and digitizing software. Have checked out SWF, Barudan, Tajima, etc. Thought I had finally settled on Prodigi, but your post got me rethinking. Specially the part about the tension control. I know what a pain that can be on a regular sewing machine. The accufeed sounds like it could cut down on thread breakage.

What about the digitizing software...How user friendly?

Is Melco the company that produces the machine? Is it sold direct or through distributors? Where is it located? I don't know how much info is permissible on this site, but I'd like info on how contact this company or a distributor to this company so that I can check it out.

We are currently a screenprinting shop that subs out its embroidery. Embroidery is picking up and my daughter/partner is interested in bringing the embroidery inhouse. We'd really like to move on this by the end of September. We'd appreciate as much info and guidance as you can give us.

BML Builder · July 10th, 2008

This is their website for the Amaya. Melco - AMAYA Commercial Embroidery Machine I bought my first machine from one of their distributors and then bought all of the others directly from Melco. They are located in Westminster, CO but have several locations around the states. They also have different locations for the training. I think the machines are being made in Plano, TX now. I have noticed that there are a lot of Amaya owners on this forum and I think any one of them will agree that they are great machines.

guest3300 · July 10th, 2008

here is an inside scoop. swf mesa (and i suppose others) have a ton of repo machines that they refurbish and resell at a discount. last time we were there the warehouse was full of them. stay away from the duel function machines

deChez · July 10th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by binki


	here is an inside scoop. swf mesa (and i suppose others) have a ton of repo machines that they refurbish and resell at a discount. last time we were there the warehouse was full of them. stay away from the duel function machines

Repos? You mean those machine salesmen have led people to believe that if they buy an embroidery machine and put it in their garage the money will just roll in? Shocking! LOL

Seriously though...you bring up a good point. I would not hesitate to buy a used machine.

tfalk · July 11th, 2008

Very interesting reading the Melco vs Brother experiences here. I have 2 PR600's and haven't had any significant problems with them. A friend who also has an embroidery business was looking to changeover her EMT1's to Amaya's. She got 1 Amaya and had nothing but trouble with it, now she's thinking of switching to the Brother machines.

I saw someone selling an Amaya, frames, software and a Dell computer for $11K, I'm still thinking of maybe picking it up. If I only had the room for it...

kier18 · August 9th, 2008

Can I upload my own computer design (jpeg file for example) into stitching software, and have it embroidered onto a shirt for relatively cheap if the design is fairly simple and has only 2-3 colors? I am just starting out and I dont need (or have the money for) software and a machine that will cost $15,000 and can stitch photographic quality pictures on a t shirt. Any information would be much appreciated.

boomer · August 10th, 2008

You can't just open any file into embroidery software and tell it to sew it. Any and all files have to be digitized,and this is an art. Auto digitizing features in software can only do so much then you have to go in manually and adjust. Most people send out files to be digitized. It is VERY time consuming and frustrating.Not to say it can't be done. I have seen jpeg's digitized and embroidered,looked good but very costly.BTW we use AMAYA Xt's and they are workhorses.We have run up to 40 hrs straight...and still going.

molina67 · August 10th, 2008

We owned a 1501C from swf and have had it for 5 years when we decided to buy two more. This machine is easy to fix if something goes wrong, and the tech support will walk you through repairs step by step so no need to have a tech come to you. These machines run about 10K and up.