Fabric Advance question

[Sheagatzi]

Is it possible that the fabric advance could be winding a little tighter on the right end of the bar (where the motor is) than on the left side?     Just curious about a problem that seems to creep up very often for me.   

 

 

[Zora]

I have the same problem and have determined that it does wind tighter there.  I think it is really caused more by the brake than the motor because it's less obvious when the brake is totally released.

[QuiltGuy]

is this causing your quilt to wind unevenly?

[Sheagatzi]

I think so, Dave

[Quilting Heidi]

I have this problem but have learned to go to the back side and pull a little on the right side to get it back into shape.  I think it is also impacted by the quilt sandwich and how much quilting there is.  I try to make sure it is rolling up on the back roller as straight as possible.  It tends to pull into the middle ever so slightly and when it is a big quilt you'll notice it more.  I just go to the back and give a gentle tug on each end to make sure it is pulled out completely.  Clear as mud?

[Beachside Quilter]

I do as Heidi.  Also, I release my brake when advancing, but hold a bit of tension on the backing roller, especially on the left side, as the quilt is pulled onto the pick-up roller.

[ffq-lar]

Perhaps you can check to see if your take-up roller is level. Look at the two eye-bolts that hold the roller and make sure the number of exposed screw-threads match. This will mean the roller is level on the table. One side higher even by a bit can make the backer sag on one side. Just a thought.     

[Sheagatzi]

Thanks for that suggestion Linda.  I will do that asap.

 

Something I noticed -  As I was advancing my quilt for a pantograph pass,  I set my laser to the start point,  advanced, and as it advanced the laser had gone about 1/2 - 3/4" to the left  (as I stand at the back of the machine)    

 

This phenomena, as well as one side that seems to sag more often, as well as the quilt seems to 'shrink' more on the one side (left when standing on the back)  than the right.   

 

That being said, i will not check the level of the take up rollers :-)  

[QuiltGuy]

is this causing your quilt to wind unevenly?

I think so, Dave

I have soooooo much to learn...

[jmcclannan]

The laser issue was happening to me and when I brought it to my husband's attention he noted that my laser was pointed to the side instead of straight on.  When I corrected that the problem disappeared. 

[Sheagatzi]

I am still convinced about my original post.  

 

So, I think I need to straighten my take up roller canvas,  but the opposite end of the motor is a good 1-2'' longer than the motor end.   

 

And I rarely use that far end, I almost always work closest to the motor.   So, I'm a bit puzzled by that still.

[Busy Quilting]

Andrea I felt the same thing was happening so now go to the opposite end of the rollers and do a manual tighten after using the fabric advance.

[Sheagatzi]

Lyn -  the motor end is the end that seems to tighten the most.  The opposite end is a good 1-2'' longer.    I rarely use that end of the frame.  Could you elaborate on how you manually tighten?  

[Busy Quilting]

I go to the opposite end of the front roller and make sure I tighten it by hand, on each advance.

 

I also put each quilt on the frame in a different starting point to the last one, so I am not stretching my leaders in the same place each time. I don't mark the centre of my quilt tops or put them on from the centre out.