Grace Company surestitch Elite, Instructions Manual

Page 1: ...surestitch Instructions ...

Page 2: ...itch stitch regulator We are thrilled to enhance your sewing experience Carefully follow the Assembly and Setup manual before using this booklet as a guide to create more even and consistent stitches Please keep this manual as a reference Thank you The Grace Company Dear Quilting Friend ...

Page 3: ...8 Encoders 10 Cables 12 Screen Guide 16 Sewing Modes 17 Sewing Mode Screens 18 Regulated Screen 19 Manual Screen 20 Menus 21 Settings Menu 22 Display Settings Menu 23 Machine Settings Menu 24 Tools Menu 25 Machine Menu 26 Tools Options and Features 27 Idle Speed 28 Overspeed 30 Edge Warning 31 ...

Page 4: ...ting Your Machine 41 Step 1 Preparing your Machine 43 Step 2 Basting 51 Step 3 Tie offs and Starts 57 Step 4 Pull Up Bobbin Thread 58 Step 5 Using Manual Mode 64 Step 6 Using Regulated Mode 67 Troubleshooting 69 Troubleshooting Directory 70 General Troubleshooting Steps 74 Encoder Troubleshooting Steps 76 ...

Page 5: ...5 Hardware Specs Hardware Specifications SureStitch Elite Screen 6 SureStitch Elite Control Box 8 Encoders 10 Cables 12 ...

Page 6: ...6 Hardware Specs Handlebar Attachment Clip Full Color Touchscreen SureStitch Elite Screen ...

Page 7: ...7 Hardware Specs M5 Knob Control Box Connector Port Programming and Service Port SSE 09 20021 ...

Page 8: ...isplay Connector Port Connector Port to Machine s Foot Pedal Port Power Port Upper Carriage Encoder Port Purple Sticker Lower Carriage Encoder Port Green Sticker SureStitch Elite Control Box Thread Cutter Connector Port ...

Page 9: ... is consistent in size Connect the display to the control box using the screen cable SSE 02 14992 Connect the thread cutter port on your machine if applicable to the control box with the thread cutter cable SSE 02 14988 Enables thread cutter screen button Do not plug a foot pedal into the foot pedal port Connect the foot pedal port on your sewing machine to the control box with one of the foot ped...

Page 10: ...der V5 Lower Encoder V5 Lock Collar Tensions the encoder on the track O Ring Rides the frame tracks to calculate location Encoder Cable Port Encoder Screw Attaches encoder to carriage 4 mm Allen wrench Lock Collar Screw 2 5 mm Allen wrench ...

Page 11: ...e tracks is critical for movement tracking The encoder must be well tensioned according to the instructions and installed in the proper place The lower encoder black spring is installed on the bottom carriage and tracks the side to side movement of the machine Contact between the O ring and the tracks is critical for movement tracking The encoder must be well tensioned according to the instruction...

Page 12: ...12 Hardware Specs Cables Connects SureStitch to a power outlet Screen Cable SSE 02 14992 Connects the display to the control box Power Adapter SSE 02 11395 ...

Page 13: ...inued Connects SureStitch to your machine s thread cutter port not available on all machines Thread Cutter Cable SSE 02 14988 Foot Pedal Cable A SSE 02 14994 Connects SureStitch to the foot pedal port on some sewing machine models ...

Page 14: ...nects SureStitch to the foot pedal port on some sewing machine models Foot Pedal Cable C SSE 02 14989 Connects SureStitch to the foot pedal port on some sewing machine models Foot Pedal Cable B SSE 02 14995 Cables Continued ...

Page 15: ...nects SureStitch to the foot pedal port on some sewing machine models Foot Pedal Cable D SSE 02 14990 SSE 02 14991 Cables Continued Foot Pedal Cable E Connects SureStitch to the foot pedal port on some sewing machine models ...

Page 16: ...16 Screen Guide Screen Guide Sewing Modes 17 Menus 21 Tools Options and Features 27 ...

Page 17: ...sewing mode screens control sewing functions There are two sewing modes Regulated Stitch at a chosen stitch length Manual Stitch at a chosen speed stitch length is managed by changing the rate that you move the machine over the project ...

Page 18: ...nual sewing modes Sewing Mode Press to cycle through other modes Settings Opens Settings menu Screen Lock Prevents stitching or settings changes until unlocked Start Stop Stitching Cut Thread Button only displays for applicable machines Stitch Control Buttons Sewing Mode Screens ...

Page 19: ... a size value of your choice Stitch Length Set stitch length from 1 to 10 Stitch Length Presets Press to quickly set length to the number indicated To customize presets 1 Set desired stitch length 2 Press and hold one of the three preset buttons Note For information on other buttons see Sewing Mode Screens on page 18 ...

Page 20: ...of length Stitch Speed Set stitch speed from 10 to 100 Note For information on other buttons see Sewing Mode Screens on page 18 Stitch Speed Presets Press to quickly set speed to the number indicated To customize presets 1 Set desired stitching speed 2 Press and hold one of the three preset buttons ...

Page 21: ...21 Screen Guide Menus Menus provide access to options features and tools Settings 22 Display Settings 23 Machine Settings 24 Tools 25 Machine 26 ...

Page 22: ...theme and calibrate the display See page 23 Access machine menu idle speed and over speed settings See page 24 Access measure tool calculator and edge warning See page 25 View our technical support contact information and SureStitch firmware version information at the top left of any sewing screen It provides the following options ...

Page 23: ...ress to cycle through menu color options Press Display Settings in the Settings menu to open the Display Settings menu It provides the following options Home Returns to sewing screen Calibrate touchscreen for troubleshooting only See page 36 ...

Page 24: ...e Settings from the Settings menu The following options display Home Returns to sewing screen Open the Machine Menu to select your machine See page 26 Choose idle speed settings See page 28 Sounds an alarm when the machine is being moved too quickly for stitch regulation See page 30 for details ...

Page 25: ...ls from the Settings menu It provides the following options Home Returns to sewing screen Measure the distance between two points See page 34 Calculate simple equations easily Set an alarm to let you know when you re nearing the edge of your quilt See page 31 for details ...

Page 26: ... icon Open Machine Settings and then choose Select Sewing Machine Home Returns to sewing screen Here you can select your sewing machine Make sure your sewing machine is off or that SureStitch is NOT plugged in before setting your machine See Selecting Your Machine on page 41 ...

Page 27: ...ools Options and Features SureStitch provides many tools to assist with quilting your masterpiece Idle Speed 28 Overspeed 30 Edge Warning 31 Measure Tool 34 Screen Calibration 36 Calculator 37 Lock Screen 38 Support 39 ...

Page 28: ...itch at while you re not actively moving your machine around in regulated stitching The Idle Speed settings are accessed in the Machine Settings menu Press the Settings Icon Home Returns to sewing screen Idle Speed Speed can be set from 5 to 100 of your machine s top speed Press to adjust speed ...

Page 29: ...tle different and performance may vary Some machines may not idle stitch in place in regulated mode unless the idle speed percentage is up higher Other machine features like tortoise and rabbit may alter how your settings work Idle Speed Continued ...

Page 30: ...ngs Menu Press the Settings Icon Press to turn sound on or off If you move the machine too quickly across the frame the machine motor won t be able to stitch quickly enough to maintain stitch regulation The overspeed sound lets you know that you are moving too fast and select Machine Settings ...

Page 31: ...urns to sewing screen The edge warning can be set to go off within a half inch or inch of the quilt edge The edge warning emits an alarm when your machine is reaching the boundaries you ve inputted This can help remind you when you re about to bump into the frame s Edge Warning and choosing Edge Warning ...

Page 32: ...want the alarm to sound when you re within an inch or half an inch of the boundary 1 To set the boundaries for the edge warning alarm take the following steps rails You can also set different boundaries such as around a particular block or section of the quilt ...

Page 33: ...Guide Move your machine to the upper right boundary of your quilt Press Upper Left 2 Slide the machine across the frame to the bottom right corner of your quilt boundary Press Lower Right 3 Edge Warning Continued ...

Page 34: ... the distance between two points The Measure tool is accessed by pressing Tools from the Settings Menu Home Returns to sewing screen Displays the horizontal vertical and diagonal measurements between two points Press to display the measurement results in inches or centimeters ...

Page 35: ...machine to the point from which you wish to measure Press Start 2 Measure Tool Continued To use the measuring tool take the following steps Go to the end of the place you wish to measure and press End Your results will display 3 Note If you hit Start in the wrong spot hit C to clear your start point ...

Page 36: ...To access Screen Calibration select Display Settings from the Settings menu Then choose Calibrate Touch This syncs up touch sensors with on screen images If buttons are offset or are difficult to press follow the directions on the screen ...

Page 37: ...37 Screen Guide and choose Calculator Calculator To access the Calculator select Tools from the Settings menu Result displays here ...

Page 38: ...38 Screen Guide Lock Screen The Lock Screen is accessed by pressing the lock icon at the top right of sewing mode screen While in this screen it is not possible to sew or modify settings ...

Page 39: ...de Support This screen provides the Grace Company support email and phone number as well as SureStitch firmware information Please send us an email or give us a call with any questions or concerns about your product ...

Page 40: ...40 Getting Started Getting Started Selecting Your Machine 41 Step 1 Preparing your Machine 43 Step 2 Basting 51 Step 3 Tie offs and Starts 57 Step 5 Using Manual Mode 64 Step 6 Using Regulated Mode 67 ...

Page 41: ...tting Started Selecting Your Machine Warning Power off your sewing machine before taking these steps Press the Settings icon and choose Machine Settings from the Settings menu 1 The Machine menu will display ...

Page 42: ...ng Started Selecting Your Machine Continued Choose the brand of your machine and then select the model from the model drop down 2 When finished press the Home icon at the top to close out of the Machine menu 3 ...

Page 43: ...me you re about to begin sewing with SureStitch Switch to quilting mode if available on your machine For instructions on switching between machine modes see your sewing machine user manual Note Not all sewing machines will have this mode but must be used if available 1 Quilting Mode ...

Page 44: ...44 Getting Started Free motion Foot Swap out your presser foot for a free motion or embroidery presser foot 2 Step 1 Preparing Your Machine Continued ...

Page 45: ...45 Getting Started Lower your machine s feed dogs so they don t catch on the quilt backing 3 Step 1 Preparing Your Machine Continued Feed Dogs ...

Page 46: ...ase on your palm on it side b Pull up on the thread c If the tension is correct the bobbin case will stand up but not lift up out of your palm Thread your sewing machine see your machine s manual for details 4 5 Threading Your Machine Step 1 Preparing Your Machine Continued ...

Page 47: ...oo Much Tension Thread runs freely from bobbin case Case remains in palm on its side Thread unwinds slowly Case lifts out of palm Thread runs freely from bobbin case Case remains in palm but lifts to vertical position Step 1 Preparing Your Machine Continued ...

Page 48: ...structions in your frame manual to install scrap material onto the frame for practice 6 Note Electronic copies of Grace Company instruction manuals can be found at www graceframe com Step 1 Preparing Your Machine Continued Scrap Quilt ...

Page 49: ...9 Getting Started Check with your machine manual to set the presser foot pressure to match the thickness of the fabric you re working with 7 Presser foot Pressure Step 1 Preparing Your Machine Continued ...

Page 50: ...ch to rabbit mode 8 Step 1 Preparing Your Machine Continued Clean your work area Check over quilting area and clear the space of stray objects Wipe down top and bottom carriage wheels with a lint free cloth to reduce debris Wipe down the bottom carriage and frame track with lint free cloth 9 ...

Page 51: ... steps on a scrap quilt before trying them out on your work in progress Position your machine over the top left corner of your scrap quilt over the batting layer 1 Practice a baste stitch across the top of the scrap quilt This can be done in Regulated or Manual sewing modes 2 Start Point Batting Layer Quilt Top Backing Layer ...

Page 52: ... Mode SureStitch boots up in Regulated sewing mode automatically In this mode SureStitch tracks the movement of the sewing machine and regulates the length of each stitch Sewing Mode Displays at the top of the screen Step 2 Basting Continued ...

Page 53: ...gin stitching Steadily move your machine across the top of the quilt where you want the baste line to be Press to increase the stitch length Larger baste stitches will be easier to pick out later a Stitch Length b Step 2 Basting Continued ...

Page 54: ...ing in Manual Mode SureStitch boots up in Regulated sewing mode automatically Press the Sewing Mode to cycle to Manual Mode Sewing Mode Displays at the top of the screen Press to cycle to other modes Step 2 Basting Continued ...

Page 55: ...te large basting stitches on a slow stitch speed Stitch Speed Press Start to begin stitching Steadily move your machine across the top of the quilt where you want the baste line to be The faster you move the machine the longer the stitches become a b Step 2 Basting Continued ...

Page 56: ...other side of the batting 3 End Point Batting Layer Quilt Top Backing Layer Note On hoop frames the right side of your quilt may drape off the end of the frame Just baste as far to the right as you are able Hoop Frame Side Rail End Point Step 2 Basting Continued ...

Page 57: ...tie off or starting knot is created by stitching in place 3 times If your machine has a single stitch button press it three times to create a tie off If your machine has a half stitch needle down needle up button press it 6 times to create a tie off You can also use your machine s handwheel to cycle the needle down and up three times Hand wheel ...

Page 58: ... the tails from the bobbin thread on the underside of the quilt Pulling the bobbin thread up to the surface of the quilt when starting out or tying off can make thread tails much more manageable Take the following steps to pull up your bobbin thread These steps can be done at the start of stitching Position your needle over the quilt where you wish to start or end your stitches 1 Step 4 Pull Up Bo...

Page 59: ...ing Started Hold the tail of the top thread up away from the fabric Jog the needle down and up once 2 Top Thread Note Appearance of needle area will vary by machine model Step 4 Pull Up Bobbin Thread Continued ...

Page 60: ... to hold the top thread tail and move the machine away from the stitch you made The top thread will pop out of the stitch hole pulling up a loop of the bobbin thread Stitch Hole Bobbin Thread Step 4 Pull Up Bobbin Thread Continued ...

Page 61: ...61 Getting Started Use your finger to pull on the loop of bobbin thread until the tail comes up from underneath the fabric 4 Bobbin Thread Step 4 Pull Up Bobbin Thread Continued ...

Page 62: ...62 Getting Started Now hold both thread tails and re position the machine back to the starting point 5 Step 4 Pull Up Bobbin Thread Continued ...

Page 63: ...63 Getting Started Start stitching from this point Both the bobbin and top thread tail are at the top of the quilt where they can be easily trimmed away 6 Step 4 Pull Up Bobbin Thread Continued ...

Page 64: ...ur choosing Instead of controlling stitching speed with a foot pedal select the speed you want to work in on the display For details on the screen options see Manual Screen on page 20 Manual stitching has a smoother less choppy feel than regulated stitching This is helpful for making sweeping curves ...

Page 65: ...Try moving more quickly and more slowly and compare your stitches Play around with the speed setting Over time you will grow more familiar working in a few specific speeds You can set presets to these speeds rather than using and to reach them 1 2 3 See page 20 for instructions on setting presets Step 5 Using Manual Mode Continued It s also useful for areas that require irregular stitch length or ...

Page 66: ...tting Started Until you get the hang of stitching in Manual mode your stitch length will probably vary significantly Be patient with yourself and don t forget to have fun 4 Step 5 Using Manual Mode Continued ...

Page 67: ...e speed of stitching is adapted to your movements so that every stitch is the desired size For details on the screen options see Regulated Screen on page 19 While regulated stitching can be used for both curves and straight lines it excels at corners and angular shapes ...

Page 68: ... lengths Every sewing machine is a little different so test out different lengths to see what looks best to you 1 Over time you will grow more familiar working in a few specific lengths You can set presets to these lengths rather than using and to reach them 2 3 Stitch Length See page 19 for instructions on setting presets ...

Page 69: ...69 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Directory 70 General Troubleshooting Steps 74 Encoder Troubleshooting Steps 76 ...

Page 70: ...bles Screen buttons not working Screen is not calibrated Some of my stitches are long Encoder issue My machine won t start sewing or the stitch regulation isn t working Machine requirements not met or machine settings are not adjusted to work with SureStitch Troubleshooting Directory ...

Page 71: ...unctional power outlet Calibrate the screen See page 36 for details Follow the guide for troubleshooting encoders on page 76 Check your sewing machine display for error messages Check your sewing machine manual for information on sewing modes Use the correct foot page 44 Additional help https www graceframe com en accessories surestitch_elite compatibility Troubleshooting Directory Continued ...

Page 72: ...ging or getting roughed up Feed dogs are up Machine is stitching slowly Idle speed is set too low Machine is set to tortoise mode Troubleshooting Directory Continued My machine isn t listed in Choose Your Machine Machine is not compatible with Sure Stitch ...

Page 73: ...achine s instruction manual on lowering the feed dogs Increase the idle speed in the idle speed screen see page 28 Check your machine speed settings including setting it to high speed mode if that is an option Troubleshooting Directory Continued ...

Page 74: ...cial attention to error messages displayed on your machine This will help technical support determine what has gone wrong if you end up needing to call in 1 If the problem is with the electronic equipment the screen for example turn the equipment off and then back on 2 General Troubleshooting Steps ...

Page 75: ...our machine s presser foot height Check your needle for bends or burrs Check your bobbin thread tension Check your top thread tension Confirm your needle size is correct for the thread and fabric that you are using Confirm that your quilting area is clear of debris Wipe down your frame tracks and carriage wheels with a lint free cloth 3 General Troubleshooting Steps Continued ...

Page 76: ...stitches going in one direction either side to side or front to back will be longer than they should Standard Stitches Long Stitches Causes Encoder came unplugged Encoder is off the track Encoder not tensioned properly Encoder mis assembled or spring is broken Encoder Troubleshooting Steps ...

Page 77: ...k collars on both encoders point upward If they do not twist the lock collars to point up and use a 2 5 mm Allen wrench to tighten the lock collars in place Gently lift the O ring off the track a couple centimeters It should resist being picked up If it does not the encoder may not be assembled correctly or the spring may be broken Call 800 264 0644 to speak to a Grace Company technical support re...

Page 78: ...The Grace Company Phone 1 800 264 0644 www graceframe com ...