Barudan BENT-ZQ-201U Embroidery Machine

edit 

REMEMBER To Reserve Time!

Various tools such as the lasers (Epilog or Audrey), 3D Printers, and Forest CNC need to be reserved before using the tool. Review the Slack channel for the tool to reserve time.

• All 3D Printers (channel: mfx-3d-printing)
• Laser Epilog (channel: mfx-laser-epilog)
• Laser Audrey (channel: mfx-laser-audrey)
• Laser Boss 1630 aka Bruce (channel: mfx-laser-boss-1630)
• Forest CNC (channel: mfx-cnc)

Overview

The Barudan BENT-ZQ-201U "Elite" is a 15 needle single head professional embroidery machine - this means you can have 15 colors in a design without stopping to change thread colors - but only do one garment, hat, etc. at a time. (Barudan also makes multiple head machines that can embroider multiple pieces of art at the same time)

• When we called shopBarudan, they pronounce the name BEAR - EWW - DAN
• BENT designates the electronics - series and model of the machine - The BENT has a built-in driver box and a monochrome graphic LCD "automat"
• ZQ is the head style designator ZQ is a 15 needle inline geometry with individual takeup
• 201 indicates this model has a ositive Drive presser foot lift mechanism"
• U is an option code for the "Under-thread Sensor Mechanism" or UTSM. This sensor detects thread breaks and stops stitching.
• This model is also sometimes called "Tanto"
• These machines were manufactured between 1997 and 2003
• Reference - Barudan Model Decoder (PDF)
• Our photo album for the Barudan Elite on Flickr

An example of the BENT-ZQ-201U

Current State

• We've verified that the machine functions, and can embroider. (YAY!!) All 15 needles are currently operational. About half of the thread break sensors are not detecting breaks. If a thread breaks while stitching the machine may continue to stitch without thread. Thread breaks are fairly common for various reasons (on any embroidery machine). So, do not leave the machine unattended as you may end up with a project that is only hole-punched.
• The cap frame has been verified as functional! :)
• Software available is Embrilliance on the embroidery computer. Demo versions can be downloaded for practice and learning that are fully functional but will not save. Embrilliance Demo

Items to Fix or Purchase

• Ribbon Cable mounting to head - Barudan sells a clip that holds the cable to the back of the head for $5ish
• Broken - Barudan LA250051 Head Cover HQ (LA200051) - $45.88
• Broken - Barudan P732014 Cover (E-stop) - Pic - (P732014) - $36.90
• Plastics are yellowed - Retr0bright might be a good project to restore the color
• Thread break sensors - Need help from someone good with electronics. Contact Lucy.

Completed Items

• Graphic LCD (Hitachi LMG6911RPBC-00T (specs) was not working due to a bad -24 inverter power supply. Neil made a small PS board and mounted it inside the electronic chassis. Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3
• Needle Change Errors - The machine needed a full degreasing, cleaning and lubrication. We'd purchased stepper motor drivers in the event they needed to be replaced, they will now be stored as parts. MTD2001 - Replacement ordered (qty 2). Datasheet
• Lithium battery - Internal memory is good, the machine had stored stitch files
• Training CD (NB10035) - Obtained; to be loaded on device to stay near machine
• Operators Manual (B8300) ordered from shopBarudan on 1/08/2017 - Obtained; will be located with machine; later found the originals (they are older version?) in the bottom of the thread box
• Replaced - Baruan Needle Clamp Screw (KF230240) - 4 are broken - shopBarudan - $.041 - Ian ordered 20 from SewManyParts, they are now in the parts bin.
• Helpful - Thread Tension Gauge (top thread) - Allstitch embroidery - $19.75 - received
• Helpful - Bobbin Tension Gauge - Amazon - $54.95 - received
• Fixed- Tension Post Sensor Wheels (HT240290) are cracking / broken. Ian ordered a new set (18) from China. AliExpress - Tension Post Sensor Wheel HT240290 for Barudan embroidery - The parts have arrived, but it is a good bit of work to replace them, so we are going to keep moving for now, then do a teardown at a later date. At the moment only needle #15 is broken beyond use.
• Tension spring #4 warped - Spring item #HT240094 ordered and replaced.

Parts

• Cap Frames - Cap Frames at shopBarudan - Barudan Cap Frame parts manual
  • Advantage Cap Frame Drive Unit ("original") EFP008126 - Pic 1 - Pic 2 - shopBarudan
  • Advantage Cap Frame Only - Pic 1 - Pic 2 - shopBarudan
• Hoops - There are a number of hoops with the machine, need to inventory and check condition of frames. Pic Blue Hoops at shopBarudan
• Barudan Parts Store Online - Looks like great parts availablity
• AliExpress - Barudan parts

Consumables

• There is a box of L-sized pre-wound white thread bobbins with the machine (they are marked L-120) Pic
• There is a box of various embroidery thread cones with the machine Pic
• There is a box of various embroidery backing with the machine Pic
• Bobbin Cases - These break occasionally, need to keep some on-hand. Amazon Roughly $28 for 6.

To Research

• Floppy Drive emulator - PLR Electronics - $325 Amazon - $55.00
• "Black Box" USB reader & file transmission (serial) to Barudan Embroidery Machines - Demo Video - $585 (yikes!) - Time for Octoprint for Embroidery...this is a perfect maker project...
• Barudan Serial Adapter - $48.25

Floppy Drive Replacement

• Gotek brand drive - Purchased, but have not decided to install - Amazon link
• Flashfloppy - better software for the gotek drives.

Software Support

• The Barudan Elite can consume the industry-standard .DST format (which does NOT have needle assignment), as well as the .UXY format (in the form of files named with .U01, .U02, etc.) which does support needle assignment.
• Barudan TES - Full embroidery design software from Barudan. We have an older copy of TES 2.0 that is running on an old Windows XP laptop. It is functional and can serial transfer to the embroidery machine. (Could be good for reverse engineering the protocol)
• Embird support for Barudan serial transfer - Embird cable wiring (Embird has been emailed to inquire about non-profit pricing)
• Wilcom - Serial Connection - Note that the "Tanto" designation is used here instead of BENT or Elite - Wilcom wants $2600 for an educational institution - PER SEAT.
• Embrilliance (used by Tiffany & Mike Smith) for windows & mac can output .DST files, but not .FMC files (quick scan of website). Embrilliance does not seem to have serial port support. Demo Version Downloads
• StitchBuddy for Mac (and ios) - for editing existing designs
• Python Embroidery Code
• Barudan requires color change at beginning of file, is a setting in Wilcom Barudan Color change missing - We've seen this behavior on some files we've created and wondered why

Embroidery Design

• Anatomy of a Quality Embroidery Design - Cute Zebra example with output from various software

Resources

• Barudan Model Decoder (PDF)
• Barudan BENT-ZQ Parts List found here - Note there are machines assembled in US and Japan with two different manuals
• Barudan Technical Sewing Head Maintenance Manual - found here
• Needle Depth Adjustment, ZQ/ZN sewing heads - found here
• Hook Timing, ZQ/ZN sewing heads - found here
• BENT System Floppy Disk Images - Current Release V2.50 R01 (posted 11//2007)
• Advantage Cap Frame - Need to verify model of cap frame\
• Technicians - Several listed in Orlando
• Barudan Board Repair

Internal Parts

• NEC 16-bit microprocessor D70236AGD-16 Datasheet Pic
• NEC RS-232 Line Driver Datasheet Pic
• Mitsubishi Inverter - FR-U120S-NO.1K-28 Manual - Pic of label

Serial Communication Specs

These specs come from the Wilcom Serial Support page

• Protocol=Standard Serial
• Baud=9600, or 38400
• Data bits=8
• Stop bits=1
• Parity=None
• Handshaking=Embroidery Machine

DST File Format Specs

DST File Format