Frequently used machine functions

Frequently used user-selectable functions supported by ES Schiffli include:

Stepp/Blatt
Begin Jump/End Jump
Fast/Slow
Borer In/Out
Borer Depth
Drop Sequin

Stepp/Blatt functions

	Use Schiffli > Stepp to increase thread tension.
	Use Schiffli > Blatt to reduce thread tension.

Tension control depends on stitch length. It also depends on the machine, fabric, and even stitch direction, but generally the threshold value between Stepp and Blatt functions is around 2.3 – 2.6mm. Thus when you digitize stitches smaller than this threshold value, you need to be in normal tension mode (Stepp). If the stitch becomes longer than this, you need to switch to loose tension by inserting a Blatt function in order to avoid thread or needle breakage. Conversely, if you are digitizing in Blatt mode and stitches become smaller than the threshold value, you must insert a Stepp function to avoid stitch puckering or looping. In EmbroideryStudio, Stepp/Blatt functions can be displayed in two colors.

In addition to the Blatt function, some machines use Fadenleiter for even finer tension adjustment. ES Schiffli provides support for this. See Machine-specific functions for details.

Note: SPES users should note that EmbroideryStudio does not currently insert the tension and speed changes automatically based on the stitch length.

Begin/End Jump function

	Use Schiffli > Begin Jump to insert a command which causes the active tool (needle or borer) to be pulled out.
	Use Schiffli > End Jump to insert a command which causes the active tool (needle or borer) to be pushed in, thereby penetrating the fabric.
	Use Function > Penetrations to activate needle or borer penetrations.
	Use Function > Borers in conjunction with Penetrations to activate borers.

ES Schiffli automatically handles needle or borer penetrations as part of ‘object properties’. You control Begin and End Jumps by means of the Penetrations tool. This means that:

for normal stitching, Penetrations must be active
for boring, Penetrations and Borers must be active
for jumps, Penetrations must be inactive.

Begin/End Jump functions instruct the current tool (needle or borer) to stop or start penetrating. If you need additional Begin/End Jump functions, you can insert them manually. Begin Jump applies both to stitching and boring and enables traveling to a point in the design without penetrations. Remember to insert an End Jump function to instruct the machine to resume normal stitching.

Note: In ES Schiffli, Begin/End Jump functions were previously called Needle Out/In. Depending on the selected penetrating device, they may be encoded on output as either Needle Out/In or Borer Out/In physical functions. Schiffli machines do not have a Jump Stitch mechanism – the frame moves with neither borers nor needles active.

Fast/Slow functions

	Use Schiffli > Fast to insert a command to increase machine speed.
	Use Schiffli > Slow to insert a command to decrease machine speed.

In principle, Schiffli designs will be stitched in fast speed to achieve maximum production. ES Schiffli always sets the initial speed to ‘fast’. You only need to insert Slow functions for particular stitch effects, stitching on delicate fabrics, or when using special devices such as sequins. Like Needle In/Out, ES Schiffli automatically inserts Slow/Fast speed functions in design locations required by the target machine (as specified in the conversion settings). Any difference in machine starting speeds is automatically handled on output. See Outputting Schiffli design files for details.

Borer In/Out functions

	Use Schiffli > Borer In to insert a command to cause the borer attachment to be lowered so that it penetrates the fabric.
	Use Schiffli > Borer Out to insert a command which causes the borer attachment to be raised.

Borer In/Out functions are available for embroidery machines equipped with a borer. They instruct the machine when to use the boring knife or tool instead of a needle. You can insert these functions using the Borers tool. It is common to use sequences of empty stitches with functions like fast and slow and borer depth separated from each other only by these empty stitches. After Borer Out, the Needle will return to the last stitch position before the Borer In.

Note: ES Schiffli shows stitching, not frame movements, so EmbroideryStudio will not show borer offset. You can only edit/view the borer-offset compensation stitches in a separate editor such as FIXPAT. See also Edit stitches with FIXPAT (Supplement).

Borer Depth function

Use Schiffli > Borer Depth to set the depth of the borer attachment which controls how large a hole the borer makes. Valid Borer Depths are 1 through 13 for Plauen and 0 to 12 for Saurer.

Borer depth is relevant only to designs digitized using ES Schiffli. The Borer Depth function is selected and defined as an absolute value. On the machine, the depth is changed by increments from the current position. The increments necessary to achieve the required borer depth are automatically calculated by ES Schiffli and distributed on stitches before the required point. See Schiffli boring for details.

Drop Sequin function

Use Schiffli > Drop Sequin to insert a command which causes a sequin to be dropped.

A Drop Sequin function is available for embroidery machines equipped with a sequin dispenser. This function instructs the machine to drop a sequin on the fabric for stitching. See also Sequins and Boring in the EmbroideryStudio Reference Manual.

When outputting Schiffli machine files, ES Schiffli provides the three most frequently used physical functions to activate the sequin device:

Borer Depth (BR)
Fadenleiter (TNS)
Schnur(Cord) (SCH).

When reading Schiffli designs, if the sequin function is set to something other than None, all instances of the selected physical function are converted to the ES Schiffli Drop Sequin function. See also Reading & Outputting Designs.