PROPER MAINTENANCE OF SEWING MACHINE

PROPER MAINTENANCE OF SEWING MACHINE

JASMIN JOY ALVARADO-MABBUN

TLE7 Subject Teacher

A sewing machine like any piece of equipment, needs some care and cleaning. Keep it dusted and lubricated at least once a week or more often if the machine is in constant use. Sewing machine requires basic maintenance of cleaning, oiling, and lubricating.

Open Ended

Any guess if what are these words?

Adjust

Entangle

Lift

Replace

Pucker

Lubricant

Lubricate

You must be familarized with the following terms in taking care of sewing machine

Adjust – change present setting as in adjusting tensions.

Entangle - forming knots like thread entangled in the bobbin case.

Lift – moving upward as in a presser foot lifter .

Replace – putting something new in the place of an old or damaged part.

Pucker – wrinkling of fabric caused by very tight stitches.

Lubricant – a material capable of reducing friction when applied between moving parts.

Lubricate – the act of applying a lubricating agent between moving parts to reduce friction and preventing the form of rust.

Proper Handling and Cleaning the Sewing Machine

General Cleaning

As you clean the machine, it is best to clean one area at a time. Remove only the parts that are involved and be sure to note where each part is from, and its correct position.

Here are the steps:

• 1. Prepare the needed tools and supplies in cleaning the sewing machine. Cleaning tools and materials includes: Quality oil, lint brush dry paint brush screw drivers, pen and record notebook, cotton buds (optional).

  
  

• 2. Remove the needle if there is any. This will prevent the cleaner from pricking fingers during the cleaning process.

Parts needed to be cleaned

• Face plate (presser bar, needle bar, thread take up lever, lifter). Unscrew face plate and keep it in the drawer while cleaning. Brush dust away then put a little amount of oil while rotating the balance wheel so inner parts can be accessed. Put back the face plate in place.

• Upper Tension (disc spring and dial). Remove outer bolt, tension dial, discs and disc spring. Lay each part in your front table following its disassembling for easier assembling. Brush dust and wipe with absorbent cloth with oil. As-

  semble by following the laid parts in your table.

• Lower Mechanism ( rotary oscillating hook ) Remove bobbin case. Fasten sides of oscillating hook. Remove dust with lint brush. Put a little amount of machine oil on moving parts. Return spare parts in place.

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Classifications of Sewing Machine Troubles

• Minor sewing machine trouble. This refers to problems that arise involving incorrectly attached accessories or supplies, unadjusted tensions, or that requires a little dusting or oiling.

• Major sewing machine trouble. This involves replacing or removing damage spare parts that made the sewing machine not totally functioning.

Health and Safety Procedure in Sewing Machine Maintenance

Cleaning and lubricating a sewing machine is quite a messy task. Therefore, personal care should be observed during this activity. The following health and safety precautions should be practiced at the shop or at home.

1. Wear personal protective equipment. This prevents your clothing from being tarnished by oil and dirt. Be sure to wear gloves to avoid accumulation of oil and dirt in your nails and palms. (Wearing of protective eye glasses is optional).

2. Remove the upper belt or turn power off (for powered sewing machine) before oiling the sewing machine.

3. When a chemical or small spare parts get into your eyes, call the attention of your teacher at once.

4. Do not remove any safety device from any machine.

5. Be sure that all screws are well-tightened before starting the machine.

6. Make sure that no screws or tools are left on the floor to avoid slipping.

7. Wipe dry spilled oils on the floor to avoid accidents.

8. Assign colored tags for a newly maintained sewing machine. This will make the user be aware of its present condition.

MAINTAINING RECORDS OF SEWING MACHINE

Recording is very important because it provides solutions to a problem, gives information for tracing the trend to the source. It gives information on consistently unsatisfactory machines, and it also provides vital information for without it, it’s impossible to know the situation at any given time and so make sound decisions

Record Matrix

A record matrix form is a form to be completed after setting the machine. It may involve adjustments on the stitch length, tension and attachments included in the accomplishment of the project/activity to be done.

Contents of the Record Matrix

1. Date – the day when the sewing machine is set.

2. Project Title – correct name / agreed name of the project.

THANK YOU!