STIRLING MD 18610 Overlock Sewing Machine User Guide

STIRLING MD 18610 Overlock Sewing Machine User Guide

This quick reference doesn’t replace the instruction manual of the machine.
For complete information and numbering, please refer to the full Instruction manual

Differential feed

The differential feed prevents wavy seams on knit fabrics and stops layers of fabric from slipping. It also prevents lightweight fabrics from puckering.

• Positive differential feed
  With positive differential feed, the front feed dogs (A) move further than the rear feed dogs (B). This ’accumulates’ fabric under the presser foot, preventing the fabric from becoming wavy.
  

• Negative differential feed
  With negative differential feed, the front feed dogs (A) do not move as far as the rear feed dogs (B). This stretches fabric under the presser foot, counteracting undesirable puckering of the fabric.
  

• Setting the differential feed
  The differential feed is set by turning the differential feed control (8). The feed can also be set while sewing.
  

Setting the presser foot pressure

The factory-set presser foot pressure is correct for all common sewing tasks and does not need to be adjusted.
If the pressure of the presser foot needs adjusting despite this, you can regulate it using the dial on the rear of the front cover for regulating presser foot pressure.

• Turn the dial (20) to a higher number to increase the pressure or to a lower value to reduce the pressure.
  

Threading the loopers

General information on threading

Threading is done in the following order:

1. STEP 1 lower looper purple
2. STEP 2 upper looper blue
3. STEP 3 right needle orange
4. STEP 4 left needle green

Correct threading is essential to ensure that stitching is even and to prevent the thread from breaking.

A practical guide to threading is located behind the front cover (12).
The thread guides are also marked in different colours.
There is a pair of tweezers in the accessory box to help with threading.

If it is necessary to thread one of the looper threads again later (e.g. if the thread breaks), first unthread the needles to prevent tangling.

Threading the lower looper

1. Open the front cover and the free arm (13).

2. Turn the hand wheel (9) towards you until the looper (28) is in the most convenient position for threading.

3. Pass the thread through the eye on the telescopic thread guide bar (5). (Fig. 1)
   

4. Now pass the thread first through the corresponding thread guide and place the thread between the two discs on the thread tensioner (4). (Fig. 2)
   

5. In order to thread the rear eye of the looper, turn the hand wheel until the point when the rear part of the looper appears on the left-hand side of the mechanism. (Fig. 3)
   

6. To thread the loopers, turn the hand wheel towards you until the looper is in a convenient position. (Fig. 4)

7. Pull around 10 cm of thread out of the looper eyes.

Threading the needles

1. Turn the hand wheel towards you until the needles (22) are at their highest position.

2. Pass the thread through the corresponding thread guide. (Fig. 1)
   

3. Place the thread between the two discs on the thread tensioner (1) & (2). (Fig. 2)

4. Pass the threads through the respective colour-coded thread guides (19). (Fig. 3)
   

5. Then pass the respective thread behind the thread guide of the needle holder as illustrated and then from front to back through the corresponding needle eye. (Fig. 4)
   

6. Pull around 10 cm of thread out through the eyes of the needles.

Start sewing / Test run

Start sewing

• The machine is switched on and the presser foot is raised.
• The fabric and the application have been selected. (refer to chapter Overview of machine settings)
• The thread has been selected. (refer to chapter Overview of machine settings)
• The combination of the needle and the thread is correct. (refer to chapter Overview of machine settings)
• Machine settings are adjusted. (refer to chapter Overview of machine settings)
• Threading has been performed according to instructions. (refer to chapter Threading the loopers/needles)
• All threads are beneath the presser foot positioned to the back and left.
  • Lower the presser foot.
  • Press the foot control to start sewing.
  • A thread chain forms.
    If no thread chain is formed. (refer to chapter Overview of machine settings)

Test run

• Raise the presser foot.
• Place the fabric sample under the presser foot in front of the knife.
• Start sewing slowly, guiding the fabric lightly.
• Sew beyond the fabric end so that a thread chain ís formed.
• Pull the thread chain over the thread cutter.
• Assess the test sample and make necessary fine adjustments, if necessary. (refer to chapter Overview of machine settings)

Adjusting the thread tension

The thread tension has influence on the stitch formation.

The looper threads are intertwined on the wrong side of the fabric.

• Reduce the lower looper thread tension (purple).
• Increase the upper looper thread tension (blue).

The looper threads are intertwined on the right side of the fabric.

• Reduce the upper thread tension (blue).
• Increase the lower looper thread tension (purple).

The left needle thread forms loops on the wrong side of the fabric.

• Reduce the lower looper thread tension (purple).
• Increase the left needle thread tension (green).

The right needle thread forms loop on the wrong side of the fabric.

• Increase the right needle thread tension (orange).

• To reduce the thread tension, turn the thread tension adjustment dial down to a lower value.

• To increase the thread tension, turn the thread tension adjustment dial down to a higher value.

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