Pfaff Lockstitch Sewing Machine -Double Needle

Pfaff Lockstitch Sewing Machine -Double Needle

Pfaff Lockstitch Sewing Machine

Lockstitch Sewing Machine -Double Needle of Pfaff and Bernina developed for garments industries. Double needle lock stitch sewing machine which produces stitches by interlacing of two threads is called double needle lock stitch machine. In this machine, there are two needles with the needle take up lever. It also contains two bobbins. For having two needles, there are two line of lock stitch in parallel. This machine produces durable stitches and is very popular in garment industries.

Function of Double Needle Sewing:

The double needle lockstitch is the tightest and most secure stitch which makes it a good choice for stitching the inseam of trousers. It also sews box pockets on safari jackets, light jeans and pyjamas and Suitable for sewing Shirts, Uniforms, Jeans and Women Underwear.

Juki lockstitch sewing machine
Lockstitch Sewing Machine

Sewing Machine Parts:

The sewing machine parts of double needle lock stitch is listed here.

  • Bobbin winder
  • Presser foot
  • Stitch length dial
  • Thread take cover
  • Belt cover
  • Lifting lever
  • Needle bar
  • Paddle
  • Reverse lever
  • Machine pulley
  • Cone stand
  • Finger guard

Specification of Double Needle Lockstitch Sewing Machine:

The specifications of a double needle lockstitch sewing machine is given below –

[label type=”label” title=”Specifications Name“][label type=”label” title=”Specifications Value“]
Product CategorySewing
Machine CategoryPfaff Double needle sewing
Product NamePfaff Double Needle Sewing Machine
Product ModelPfaff model
Product ClassNew
OriginChina/India/Others
Brand/ ManufacturerPfaff
Agent in BangladeshNo/Yes
Power380v
TemperatureNormal
CertificationSGS/Others
Production CapacityNA
GroupLock stitch
Stitch per minute4000-4500
Needle nameDP X 5
Thread per inch5”
No of needle2
No of Bobbin2
Seam classSuper imposed
Stitch class300
DescriptionShould be error free.

Features of the Machine with Needle Bar:

The features of the machine including needle bar is stated here-

lockstitch sewing machine
  • Stitches are produced by interlocking.
  • It has two needles and two bobbins.
  • Lockstitch sewing machine is very fast
  • Bobbin,  needle bar and bobbin case are present in this machine
  • Threads and  needle bar are supplied from cone.
  • Double needle sewing facility

Safety for Double Needle Lockstitch Machine:

Please keep your hair, fingers and clothes away from the hand wheel, and motor while the machine is in operation, as well as never put anything near these parts, to prevent the risk of injuries by tangled into them.

Please never put your fingers under the needles or in the thread take up cover to prevent physical injuries when you turn on the power switch or operate the machine.

While the machine is in operation, the hook rotates at a high speed. Please keep your hands away from the area of needles to prevent any potential injury to your hands.  In addition please make sure to turn off the power of the machine while changing needles.

Broken needle may injure finger, eye or any where of the body and to solve it Use PPE (Needle guard, eye guard etc.).

Pfaff Needle Broken Double Needle Lockstitch Machine
Broken Needle

Another problem is Machine belt pulley may cause any accident. And the solution is -Use pulley cover, machine belt cover & motor pulley cover during work time.

Machine belt pulley Double Needle Lockstitch Machine
Machine belt pulley

Pfaff Lockstitch Sewing Machine vs Operator / Supervisor:

The floors may some lines each which makes the total count of the lines to 15 in the whole unit. Since, in Bangladesh the labor cost is very low, therefore there are a lot of helpers in the lines and the automation is limited because of the same reason. That’s why one Pfaff lockstitch sewing machine is operated by one operator

The labor cost is around Tk.2400 ($34.3 or Rs.1800) per month, for a skilled operator as compared to Rs.2700 ($60 or Tk.3600) per month in India. Therefore, the automation is substituted by the use of intensive labor and the number of helpers per line is tremendously very much than most of the lines in India.

There are supervisors for each line who look after the production of the line and the proper working by the operators, in a way, supervisor is a face between the middle level management and the operators. The supervisors also take care of any problems faced by the operators and bring it to the notice of the middle level management, if needed.

Every floor has a floor manager who is assisted in his work by a junior manager and it is their responsibility to look after the production on the entire floor. The supervisors submit their hourly reports to them. The line balancing on the change of any style is also the responsibility of the floor managers.

There is a single production manager for all the 3 floors, and the floor managers report to him. It is the production managers who sees that which style has to be worked on which floor and which line and when.

Double Needle Sewing Mc – Daily Maintenance:  

Done by : Operators

Supervised by: Maintenance Personnel

Needle: Check whether the needle is bent or blunt or not. If it is bent or blunt change the needle and install it under the supervision of maintenance personnel.

Rotary hook: Clean the tail of thread, dust and lint in the rotary hook and bobbin case.

Lubrication: Lubricate the machine parts where necessary.

Time required: 10 minutes.

Cleaning the bobbin case and other possible parts:

Clean the lint, loose thread and other dirt from the shuttle of bobbin and bobbin case. Besides the table and other parts which cannot effect the setting must be cleaned.

Required time: 10 minute.

Double Needle Sewing Mc – Weekly Maintenance:

Done by : Maintenance Personnel

Supervised by: Maintenance Manager

Needle – Hook point timing: Check whether the needle – hook point timing is correct or not. If there lies miss-timing then adjust it.

The check points are

  1. Needle – hook point clearance
  2. The height of needle from its lowest position of upward stroke when the hook point reach at the center line of needle
  • At the same time the distance between the hook point and the top end of the needle eye.

Required time: 10 minute.

The clearance between bobbin case holder and bobbin case holder bracket:

Check the clearance between the bobbin case and bobbin case holder bracket (1-1.5mm). Make sure that the hook will not touch bobbin case holder bracket.

Required time: 5 minute.

Adjustment of the needle and feed timing:

Check whether the adjustment of the needle and feed-timing is correct or not. If not adjust it through adjusting the timing belt.

Required time: 5 minute.

Presser foot pressure: Check whether the pressure of presser foot is proper or not. If not adjust it by adjusting the distance between the bottom washer and top of pressure bar guide bracket. And the bottom of work clamp must be kept parallel to the top of the work.

Required time: 5 minute.

Thread take-up amount:Check the amount of the thread take-up stroke, clearance between needle thread and thread take-up lever guide (.5-1 mm). Make sure that it is not more than necessary.

Required time: 5 minute.

Needle & bobbin thread tension adjustment: Check whether the standard operating range of thread take-up spring is accurate or not (6-8 mm). The tension at appropriate operating range must be checked.

Required time: 5 minute.

Needle Bar installation: It must be remembered during needle installation that the long groove of the needle is on the left and tightened with the needle clamping screw. Adjust the needle clearance and lift amount.

Required time: 2 or 3 minute

Stitch Length: Check whether the stitch length is appropriate or not. If not , push the reverse feed  lever halfway down, turn the dial until desired number align the pin at top and release the reverse feed lever.

It is remembered that the number, the longer the stitch length will be and the reverse sewing device is the automatic-resetting type.

Required time: 2 or 3 minute.

Needle Bar height: It is remembered that when the needle bar is in its lowest position the reference line on the must be at the lower end of the containing the needle bar. If it is not so, remove the needle plate, loosen the needle bar connecting stud clamping screw and adjust by raising or lowering the needle bar.

Required time: 5 minute.

Adjustment of Pressure on the material (fabric): The pressure on the material during sewing must be as weak as possible, but strong enough so that the material does not slip. Adjust the pressure through loosing the adjustment nut.

Required time: 5 minute.

Feed Dog Height: The standard height of the feed dog for sewing thin material is 0.8 mm, and for medium material is 1.00 mm and for thick material is 1.2 mm (when the stitch length is set to the maximum).

Adjust the feed dog height by loosening the screw when the feed dog is above the needle plate surface and move the feed lifting arm up and down.

Required time: 5 minute.

Feed dog angle: In order to prevent puckering, material from slipping the feed dog is to be raised or lowered downward at standard angle.

When the feed dog angle has been adjusted, check to confirm that the height of feed dog has not changed.

Required time: 5 minute.

Presser foot height:The standard height of the presser foot is 6 mm when the presser foot is raised with presser foot lifter lever. To adjust the presser foot height, loosen the nut of the adjustment screw and then the presser foot adjustment screw so that no pressure will be applied to the presser foot, then loosen the set screw and adjust the presser foot height by raising or lowering the presser bar.

Required time: 5 minute.

Double Needle Sewing Mc – Monthly Maintenance

Oil replacement and other interrelated checks:

  1. Check lubricant or oil whether that is to replace.
  2. Check bush leakage, oil seal leakage or age, vibration of oil and the flow of oil pump more or less than setting.
  • Check rubber cushion seats, four corners of machine tool groove on which oil pan stands.

Required time: 10 minute

Rotary hook

Check rotary hook wear whether it is need to replace.

Required time: 10 minute.

Presser foot canal

Check its canal wear. If necessary replace it.

Required time: 5 minute.

Conclusion:

Sewing is a dominant process in the garment making, and it is still the best way of achieving both strength and flexibility in the seam itself as well as flexibility of manufacturing method. Much of the application of technology to clothing manufacture is concerned with the achievement of satisfactorily sewn seams. The objectives of sewing are the construction of seams, which combine the required standards of appearance and performance with an appropriate level of economy in production. This Pfaff Lockstitch Sewing Machine is also known as plain stitch machine. Here different type sizes of needle can be used as requirement. It is very popular in the garment industries.

[1] Md. Ferdus Alam, B.Sc. in Textile Engineering, Southeast University, Cell # 1723300700,  Email: ferdus.j@gmail.com
Elna Single Needle Lockstitch Machine for Garment Factory

Elna Single Needle Lockstitch Machine for Garment Factory

Elna Single Needle Lockstitch Machine

Single Needle Lockstitch machine of  Elna, Pfaff and Bernina is developing for garments industries. Lockstitch machine which produces stitches by interlacing of threads is called lock stitch machine. This machine produces durable stitches and is very popular in garment industries. To operate this machine on sewing table one person should have practical knowledge about the plain sewing machine.

Elna Sewing Machine Parts:

Sewing machine parts of single needle machine is given below with a diagram. The diagram shown its different parts.

Parts of lock Stitch Machine
Parts of lock Stitch Machine
  • Feed dog
  • Connection rods
  • Pressure foot
  • Upright arm shaft
  • Upright arm
  • Arm shaft
  • Needle bar
  • Spool pin
  • Bobbin
  • Loop taker
  • Bobbin case
  • Paddle
  • Side plate
  • M/C pulley
  • Cone stand
  • Horizontal arm
  • Head
  • Face plate
  • Bed shafts

Checklist for needle and metal control:

  • Is there a secure location for keeping needles and other tools?
  • Is there a trained, authorised person to issue needles or other metal tools?
  • Do the authorised people fully understand the procedure?
  • Is there a needle record sheet for broken needles?
  • Is it correctly and accurately completed?
  • Are all broken needles included on the record sheet?
  • Do all employees understand the metal control procedure in this area?
  • Is there a clear procedure for dealing with missing broken needle pieces?
  • Are there any spare needles at the machines or any unused machines with needles in?
  • Are there any broken needles on the floor?
  • Are there any untied small scissors at machines?
  • Are there any other sharp metal items in the work area?
  • Are there pins or staples used in this area?

Checklist for needle and metal detection

  • Is the metal detector located at the end of the process so all items pass through without being missed?
  • Do all products pass directly into a metal free zone after being detected?
  • Has the metal detector been serviced in the past 12 months?
  • Does the metal detector only detect non-ferrous metal?
  • Is the machine operator trained to use the machine?
  • If metal is detected, does the conveyor stop and an alarm sound?
  • Is there a record sheet for metal pieces found?
  • Is the machine restarted by a key?
  • Is there an isolation box for items where the metal contamination cannot be found?
  • Is the 9 point system used to check the metal detector prior to any product being metal detected?
  • Are there record sheets for all system checks?

Function of Single Needle Lockstitch Machine:

For sewing light or heavy fabric i.e. all kinds of plain sewing. It use different types of single needle. It is very easy to install the needles in the machine.

Features of Lock Stitch Machine on Sewing Table:

The features of a lock stitch machine on sewing table is stated here berifly-

  • Stiches are produced on sewing table by interlocking of  lockstitch sewing machine
  • Bobbin and bobbin case are present on sewing table
  • Threads are supplied on sewing table from cone.
  • It has one needle and one bobbin.
Elna single needle lockstich sewing machine

Specifications of LockStitch Machine:

The specification of a elna lockstitch machine  is specified below-

[label type=”label” title=”Specifications Name“][label type=”label” title=”Specifications Value“]
Product CategorySewing
Machine CategoryLock Stitch Machine
Product NameLock Stitch Machine
Product ModelAccording to Manufacturer
Product ClassNew
OriginChina/India/Others
Brand/ ManufacturerName of Manufacturer
Agent in BangladeshNo/Yes
Power380v
TemperatureNormal
CertificationSGS/Others
Production CapacityNA
GroupLock stitch (Interlacement)
Stitch per minute1500
Needle size9,11,14,16,18,20,21
Thread per inch2.5”
No of needleOne needles
Seam class300
DescriptionShould be error free.

Adjusting Stitch Length of Elna Single Needle Machine:

Stitch length of Elna Single Needle can be adjusted variably in range from 1.6mm – 4.2mm, or 6-16 stitch per inch.

  1. Keep pressing the push button A with the left hand then run the hand-wheel with the right hand until you feel the push button lock in for single needle lockstitch machine.
  2. Keep turning the hand-wheel for a inquired stitch length. Turn the pulley and align the inquired scale with mark B and then stop pressing the button
  3. Rotate the hand wheel clockwise to increase the stitch length and counter clockwise to decrease for single needle lockstitch machine
  4. Adjusting the stitch length will change the differential feed ratio, therefore after adjusting the stitch length, please adjust the differential feed ratio

S.O.P of Sewing: 

To maintain the best quality of Auto garment Group. Any garment of every order & every style when we confirm from buyer for trail or bulk production, at first we (qa. Manager, production manager, maintenance manager, qc supervisor, sewing supervisor, line qc) discuss, all points of the order with p.p. Sample, trim card, order sheet, spec, pattern, buyer comments at pre production meeting then we make a lay out & start making the garments, our line qc/qc supervisor check & measurement every process properly & note on style check file. After complete the garments we (qc supervisor, qa supervisor, qa manager) properly check style one pcs  garments with order sheet, p.p. Sample, trim card, spec. Buyer comments & keep record properly. Our qa team complete ipc inspection & keep record properly.

In the production time we maintain * traffic light system * in-line inspection * random measurement * measurement every size every colour every day * wash test * end of the 100% inspection, we keep all record properly.

Purpose: Identification and control of the needles which are broken in the sewing lines during production to ensure product safety.

Scope: All needles broken at the production floor of Auto Garments Limited.

Responsibility: QC Manager and Production Manager is responsible for ensuring that the procedure is properly followed and Executed.

Store Officer (sub store) is responsible for ensuring proper collection of all broken parts of a needle when a replacement needle is being provided.

Line Supervisor, Quality Control In-charge and Production Manager are responsible for taking immediate action when broken parts of a needle has been reported as lost by the operator.

Procedure:Each and every needle breakage shall be recorded in Broken Needle Register (No. F/ST/29) mentioning date, operator name, card no., process, Line no., Buyer’s name, Needle size, Quantity, Change needle no., sign. of operator, issued by, sign of supervisor, sign of Manager, remarks.

When a needle is reported as broken the line supervisor/Operator must bring and submit all the broken parts of the needle in order to receive a replacement.The store officer will issue a replacement needle and preserve the broken parts in the Broken Needle Register (No. F/ST/29). The Issue will be recorded in the same register.

If all the parts of the needle cannot be located, report shall be made to the QC In-charge and Production Manager and the specific garment and all other garment/garment component located near the single needle lockstitch machine shall be segregated and put in a bin with identification board writing “BROKEN NEEDLE/DO NOT TOUCH”

Each and every garment put in the bin shall be separately inspected using a Metal detector by the Operator and QC In-charge.The single needle lockstitch machine shall be checked using a metal detector by the QC In-charge / QC Inspector.

If the broken part cannot be found, Production Manager and QC In-charge shall make decision and authorize the issue of a replacement needle by signing on the broken needle register after verification of the previous activities performed by the QC In-charge, line supervisor and operator.

Garments segregated in step 5.4 shall be thoroughly checked and confirmed that those are free from any broken needle parts before issuing them to production floor.

Conclusion:

It can also be called plain stitch machine. Here different sizes of needle can be used as per requirements. Single needle lockstitch machine mostly used in the garments industries.

[1] Md. Ferdus Alam, B.Sc. in Textile Engineering, Southeast University, Cell # 1723300700,  Email: ferdus.j@gmail.com