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Getting Started With Your Pantograms GS1501 Embroidery Machine (the quick guide) Thank you for choosing Pantograms for your embroidery system provider. We encourage you to read the following instructions for setting up the embroidery machine and sewing your first test designs. Service and Support: The talented and knowledgeable people in our Service and Support department are ready to assist you should questions or problems arise. We strive to give the best support in the embroidery industry by offering website and telephone support. For Website Support visit www.pantograms.com and click on Support. There you will find a variety of topics related to your machine and software. For Telephone Support call 1-800-872-1555 ext. 226 Monday Thursday, 8:30am 5:30pm (EST) Friday, 8:30am 3:30pm (EST) Leave a message with your name, phone number and message stating the nature of your call and one of our technicians will call you back. Monday Thursday all calls received by 4:30pm EST, and Friday by 2:30pm will be returned the same day. Pantograms website Visit our website at www.pantograms.com for more information about our products, machine support and embroidery support. EmbSupplies website To order embroidery supplies visit our embroidery supplies website at www.embsupplies.com Page 2 of 37
Unpacking Your GS1501 Embroidery Machine Contents of box containing the workstation: Workstation Cap option Tubular hoop holder Tool kit Sample test design Starter kit Owners manual Hoops per your sales order Blank cap Other accessories you ordered Embroidery machine Thread stand Tabletop Tools needed to unpack: Scissors or other cutting implement Please note: Save the crate for future shipping should service be required. Page 3 of 37
Unpacking Your GS1501 Cut and remove the straps that encircle the box. Page 4 of 37
Remove the box lid Remove the inner tray, containing the hoops and other accessories Page 5 of 37
Remove the workstation components Page 6 of 37
Replace the lid on the box to assemble the workstation. Page 7 of 37
Workstation Assembly The following components make up the workstation. 2 - Side Frames 1 - Back Support 1 - Lower Shelf 1 - Table Top 4 - Casters Assorted fasteners You will need a 5mm and 6mm Allen wrenches and a 12mm wrench or socket for the assembly process. These tools can be found in the toolbox that was included with your GS-1501 ** IMPORTANT - DO NOT TIGHTEN ANY FASTENERS UNTIL ASSEMBLY IS COMPLETE ** Page 8 of 37
Step 1 - Fasten back support to one side Frame Step 2 - Fasten other side frame to back frame. Step 3 - Stand workstation frame upright Step 4 - Place lower shelf onto supports Page 9 of 37
Step 4 - Line up holes in shelf and support. Insert bolts through holes in both shelf and support and attach nut. Step 5 - Place tabletop on workstation. Line up holes and insert bolts through both table top and frame and attach nuts. Step 6 - Flip workstation over so that it is sitting on its table top. Step 7 - Attach casters with 4 bolts per caster Page 10 of 37
Step 8 - Tighten bolts holding back frame to side frames Step 9 - Tighten bolts holding shelf and table top; be careful to not over tighten. Step 10 - Insert plugs to cover bolts holding back and side frames Page 11 of 37
You have completed assembly of the workstation and it is now ready to receive your GS-1501 Page 12 of 37
Remove the cover, and lift off the outer shell of the GS-1501 box Two people can now lift up the machine at its base and place it on the workstation. Page 13 of 37
One person should carefully lift the back of the GS-1501, while the other inserts the feet into the threaded holes at each corner Your GS-1501 is now ready for its initial setup. Page 14 of 37
Remove the Phillips screw from the top of the two posts that will support the thread tree. Using an Allen wrench (2.5mm), loosen (but do not complete remove) the set screw in the post then Raise the post up to its final position and re-tighten the set screw. Repeat these steps for the other post. Set the thread tree on top of the posts, aligning the holes in the thread tree with the holes at the top of the posts. Page 15 of 37
Using the screws that were previously removed, attach the thread tree to the posts and tighten You are now ready to install the thread on your GS-1501. Page 16 of 37
Threading Your GS-1501 Unwrap the thread tails from the post on the right and left hand sides of the GS-1501 Carefully separate the thread by gently running your fingers through the bundle. Attach each of the thread tubes to the thread tree. Page 17 of 37
Take the end of the thread and insert through the eyelet next to the top tensioner for each thread. Run each thread from the eyelet, through the thread tree. The following chart shows how each the thread corresponding to each needle should be passed through the thread tree. Open the box containing the thread for your machine. Each cone is individually wrapped. To remove the wrapper, simply hold the plastic firmly and twist and pull. Page 18 of 37
Remove the adhesive label from the bottom of the thread cone by pushing in at the center, then discard. Page 19 of 37
To release the tail of the thread unsnap the base of the cone, and unwind until the thread is completely out of the base. Place the colors on the corresponding Needle numbers listed below 15 Dark Grey 0111 14 Maroon 2123 13 Dark Yellow 0713 12 Dark Green 5326 11 RED 1904 10 Royal Blue 3622 9 Orange 1300 8 Light Green 5422 7 Light Grey 0142 6 Beige 0761 5 Black 0020 4 White 0015 3 Navy Blue 3355 2 Dark Yellow 0600 1 Purple 2900 Repeat the above steps for the other 14 cones and place on the thread rack. Using a modified square knot, also known as a surgeon's knot, tie the end of thread hanging from the thread tree to the corresponding cone of thread Page 20 of 37
How to tie a surgeon's knot Now with a pair of tweezers carefully pull the thread loose from the Velcro bar. Make sure to grasp the thread behind the needle then Now gently pull the thread until the knot is just in front of the needle. Once the knot is directly in front of the eye of the needle, pull it out so that it lines up with the eye, and pull gently and the knot should pass through. If the knot does not pass through, trim the tread and thread the needle directly. Once the needle is threaded, make sure the thread passes through the hole at the base of the presser foot. Page 21 of 37
Now continue to gently pull the thread through the needle and presser foot and pull it into the spring at the front of the needle case then trim the thread above the spring. Gently pull enough thread from the cone and loop it to the right of the upper tensioner. Slide the thread between the tension disks, making sure to be inside of the tab located at the 3 o'clock position. Page 22 of 37
Remove any slack by pulling the thread back towards the cone of thread Repeat the above steps until the GS1501 is completely threaded. Plug the power cord into the back of the GS-1501, and then into a standard 110 power outlet. We do recommend the use of an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) or a high quality surge protector. Then press the power switch to turn on. Page 23 of 37
Attaching the tubular arms. The tubular arms are what holds the hoop in place during normal embroidery, and are very easy to attach. Install the left arm as shown below, notice which notches should be used, and also how the arm is attached to the pantograph. Tighten securely with the Allen wrench. Repeat the procedure for the right arm, once again notice which notches should be used. Page 24 of 37
Slide in the pre-hooped fabric, which you received with your GS-1501 and push it forward until it locks in place. Press the #1 key on the control panel to move to Needle #1 Page 25 of 37
Use the arrow keys on the control panel to center the needle in the hoop, you can use a standard ruler to measure from the needle to each side, and from the needle to the front and back of the hoop to make sure it is centered. Page 26 of 37
Tracing the Design. It is very important that you trace before embroidering. If you do not trace and hit a hoop you could cause damage to your GS-1501 that is not covered under warranty. To trace press the HOME button Press number 4 for Contour Range Check and then press the Enter key. You will see the message "Generate Contour" and then the hoop will move in relation to the needle showing the outer edge of the design. If it appears that Needle #1 is outside of the hoop, refer back to the centering the hoop step above. Page 27 of 37
Once the trace is completed, and you are satisfied with the centering of the hoop press the green start button to begin embroidering. The design will take approximately 7 minutes to complete and will run through all needles. To remove the hoop from the arms, lift up on the hoop while pressing down on the arms and pull it out of the holder. Show completed Design. Page 28 of 37
Installing the Cap Driver and embroidering the test cap design. Remove the tubular arms by loosening (do not completely remove) the Allen screws. Set these aside for future use. Slide the cap drive into place as shown. On the underside of the cap driver there are 4 rollers, these roller should align with the guide rail on the underside of the arm. Page 29 of 37
When these are aligned correctly the cap driver will slide smoothly back towards the pantograph. The mounting screws will line up as shown. Use a Phillips screw driver to tighten the mounting screws on both the left and right sides To load the cap test design, you must first exit embroidery mode by pressing the Embroidery Status Button. Page 30 of 37
Then press Enter to Confirm Now press the Hoop / Cap Key mode. to change to cap Then Press the Enter Key to confirm. Then enter one more time when you see the message "Limit Switch work normal" Page 31 of 37
Press the Design Management Button. At 1 press enter to select design for embroidery. Use the arrow keys to move to Embsup~1.mem and press Enter to select. Press enter one more time on the design information screen. Page 32 of 37
GS1501 Control Panel Please refer to the diagram of the Control panel to familiarize yourself with the various buttons and functions Page 33 of 37
1. Rotates the current design 2. Used to load and select designs for embroidery 3. Embroidery Status Key: Switches between being active (lit) to perform embroidery to unlit to load a new embroidery job. 4. Choose Embroidery Mode---HOOP or FLAT 5. Trim 6. Rotates the Shaft 7. Key to load/select colors 8. Auto to Manual color change 9. Switch Working Method: Embroidery, Slow Float and Fast Float (in fast float you can forward through the design) 10. Trim Key 11. Cycle key: Used to cycle the shaft back to correct 100 degree position when the light next to #15 is off. Also used for rotating the rotary hook after oiling. 12. Used for loading special operations such as design name data. 13. Escape key: to exit a function 14. Enter key: used to confirm selections 16. Double arrows in the center switch the speed of the frame movement from slow to fast red light on indicates frame speed is fast, red light off for slow fine tuning of hoop movement. Left and right arrows are used for switching between menus / paging up or down and also for moving the frame left and right. Up and Down arrows are for moving the frame forward and backward. 17. Speed controls Page 34 of 37
18. Number pad used for selecting colors and functions. Page 35 of 37
The Control Panel Display Page 36 of 37
Hoop Material on Tubular Hoop Take the 18cm hoop (included in the starter kit) and separate the two rings, placing the bottom ring on a flat surface with the tension screw towards you. Place a piece of fabric and a piece of heavy cut-away backing on top of the bottom ring; make sure the material extends beyond the hoop and evenly all around. Take the tubular hoop top ring and put it on top of the material. The double notches on both sides of the arms are towards you. With some force, press down into the bottom hoop. If the bottom ring is too tight, loosen the tension adjustment screw with your fingers on the bottom hoop ring until you are able to push the hoops together. There should be some force applied. The backing material inside the hoop should be smooth and taut. Take the hooped material to the embroidery machine and slide the tubular hoop arms into the hoop holder. It will snap in place at the snap points. Test Sew the Design to Check Tensions In Flat Mode Congratulations, you have sewn your first designs on your new GS1501 embroidery machine. You can now continue to Installing the Forte Embroidery Suite Software. If at any time during this exercise you are uncertain what to do PLEASE CALL SUPPORT at 1-800-872-1555 ext. 226. We are happy to help you. Page 37 of 37