Advancements in Thread Tension Management

One of the most important steps involved in setting up an embroidery machine is making sure each thread is properly tensioned. Improper thread tension causes damage to fabric and leads to thread breaks which waste valuable materials and reduce machine run time.

To manually adjust the thread tension, embroidery operators must turn a knob for each thread so that the optimum amount of pressing force is applied to the fabric. This can be a meticulous process depending on the number of threads connected to the machine and the operator's skill level. Without a proper understanding of the machine, stitch type, and material used, it's very easy to accidentally over or under-tension your thread.

Luckily, Tajima has made some big advancements in embroidery technology to greatly mitigate this problem. First is the digitally controlled presser foot (DCP). This device measures the thickness of any fabric and adjusts the height and pressure of the presser foot to reduce fabric fluttering.

Pair a DCP with Tajima’s Intelligent Thread Management (i-TM) and managing thread tension becomes completely automated. Instead of knobs, i-TM machines calculate the optimum tension needed depending on the designs stitch type and the DCP’s readings. When purchasing your next machine, look out for the i-TM and DCP logo to never worry about adjusting tension again.

With automatic thread tension, there’s no risk of losing time or money due to improper threading. If your device supports i-TM technology, make sure to use the PXF file format to store your thread tension settings in the file automatically.