Sewing Machine Repair: Electricity Revolutionizes Sewing

The awesome invention of the sewing machine has inspired creativity for over 150 years.
When Elias Howe invented the sewing machine in 1846, it was an amazing mechanical device driven by human power. The evolution of the sewing machine included foot power, hand power, and eventually electrical power. This transition has had huge impact on moder day diy repair singer sewing machine and over all sewing machine repair.

The power system of the sewing machine in those days involved the use of levers, gear, belts, and wheels. The user would start the process either by hand or foot power, and the sewing machine would transfer that movement across the sewing machine to its various parts. This enabled the machine to move the needle, hook, and feed systems to generate sewing.

A major advancement occurred when the human power was replaced by electrical power. Electric motors were mounted behind the sewing machine with a small pulley connected by a belt drove a larger wheel on the upper shaft. The electric power was essentially changed into mechanical power.

The electric motor made sewing faster, easier, and more reliable. It never got tired pumping or cranking. In the early years of this change over, existing sewing machine were often converted by replacing the hand cranks or treadles with motors mounted, aligned, and connected by belt to the machine. While the treadle and hand crank machines are now nostalgic treasures, they do not compare to the productive ability of the motorized sewing machine.

AC motors use Alternating Current or standard household electricity from the electric outlet on your wall. This electricity cycles electric flow in one direction and then in the other all at 120 volts. Inside the motor, this alternating current is processed through a coil winding around a core with a motor shaft in the center. The coil produces a magnetic field pulling one way, and then cycles the opposite direction. The result is that shaft starts to revolve or turn. The electrical energy from the wall is converted into mechanical energy in the motor. A belt or gear is then used to turn the sewing machine. This is controlled by the sewing machine foot control which often requires the technician to repair sewing machine foot control.

Electric motors come in two types AC and DC. In both cases the electricity used to run the motor must operate in a continuous unbroken circuit or loop. If the flow of electricity in the circuit flows in one direction and then in the opposite direction, it is called alternating current. If the flow is in only one direction within the loop, it is DC or direct current. Use of a transformer can convert AC to DC or the reverse.

AC motors are used in conjunction with levers, gears, cams, and other mechanical devices to make stitches and run the sewing machine in what are known as mechanical sewing machines. For over a hundred years, this applied to all sewing machines. Even now AC driven mechanical sewing machines are used for commercial use and low end models.

In recent years, another revolution has begun. The introduction of integrated computer circuits and other electronics have brought huge improvements in the reliability and smoothness of operations. A good example of this can be found in the elna tsp air electronic sewing machine repair manual which show how air electronics controls the motor. Another advancement has been the introduction of DC pulse motors to control the sewing machine and produce stitches. The result has been amazing. These modern sewing machines make sewing so much easier and enjoyable.

Understanding the power system of your sewing machine will help you understand when it is functioning properly or improperly. If the machine is not working they way you expect, understanding will help you make adjustments and repairs. The sewing machine repair manuals offered by Dr. David Trumble provide detailed sewing machine repair instructions.

Pick up your free Sewing Machine Repair beginner's course: 7 Steps To Peak Performance For Your Sewing Machine. Also check out his indept sewing machine repair manuals.