Barudan BENT-ZQ-201U Embroidery Machine

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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 piece of art 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

An example of the BENT-ZQ-201U

Current State

  • We've verified that the machine functions, and can embroider. (YAY!!) We are currently learning how to tension thread and to verify operation on all needles. We currently have 11 of 15 needles loaded and tensioned properly. We believe that we can operate 14 of 15 currently, and with a few hours work (and lots of rethreading) we could have all 15 operational.
  • The cap frame has been verified as functional! :)
  • We are learning software and will purchase a package soon

Items to Fix or Purchase

  • 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
  • Broken - 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.

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

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 Replacement

  • Gotek brand drive - Bill provided one to test, if it works we will return / replace it - Amazon link
  • Flashfloppy - better software for the gotek drives, and will let us set for 720k if needed

Software Support

  • The Barudan Elite can consume the industry-standard .DST format
  • 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

Resources

Internal Parts

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

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