How long have you been making the PC Quilter?
Where is the PC Quilter made?
How well does the PC
Quilter sew?
Where can I see a PC Quilter?
Why are some of the
alternatives so much more money?
How do I decide what
model of PC Quilter to buy?
How reliable is a PC
Quilter?
What kind of warranty and support is included
with the PC Quilter?
Will the PC Quilter work with mid-arms and long-arms?
How do I decide which sewing machine to
use/purchase?
Where do I get patterns for the PC Quilter?
What frames does the PC Quilter work with?
What changes do I need to make to my quilt
frame to use the PC Quilter?
Can I make my own frame?
Do I need a dedicated computer for the PC
Quilter?
How much computer knowledge do I need to have?
What kind of personal computer (PC) do I need?
Is the PC Quilter hardware or software?
How close does my
computer need to be to the PC Quilter?
What versions of Windows does the PC Quilter
need to work?
What is the GUI?
Are there any problems setting up the PC Quilter
on a home computer?
How
do I get software updates for the PC Quilter?
Is the PC Quilter difficult to set up and get
working?
Can a physically challenged person use the PC
Quilter?
Can I use my Handi Handles with the PC Quilter?
Does the PC Quilter have a Stitch Regulator?
Do I have to pay Sales Tax on the PC Quilter?
Can the PC Quilter be shipped to Canada without
paying duty?
Do you ship internationally?
Do you need reps for the PC Quilter?
I don't understand instruction books but can I
still buy a PC Quilter?
I don't understand much about my PC but can I
still buy a PC Quilter?
Where can I see a PC Quilter?
We demonstrate the PC Quilter at many
quilt shows across the USA and some in Canada, so you may wish to
check out our show listings. Many of our customers have
purchased the PC Quilter without having
seen one. If you spent a few hours going through the instruction
book, you will know exactly what it does and doesn't do, and how
easy or not easy it is to use. You can obtain the instruction book
on-line.
(Top of the
page)
Why are some of the alternatives so
much more money?
All technology has dropped in price over the past decade. There is
no reason that automatic (robotic) quilting needs to cost an arm and
a leg. Yet it still does cost more than $5,000 - $10,000 from some
vendors. That is often not getting you a better product than the
PC Quilter.
But in all fairness, we must say that some of the long-arm systems
are very high quality and work well. They just cost too much. In some
cases, there are reasons why it might cost a little more - such as the
vendor coming to your site and setting it up. Also, because some have
priced it so expensive that they don't sell many systems so they need
a high price to recover development costs and on-going-overhead with
so few sales. We have sold more systems in a single year than some
robotic long-arms have sold in many years. In general, the expensive
systems are priced high because quilting robotics were developed years
ago and originally on long-arms. Long-arms are expensive so anything
you add is going to be expensive. Similar to boats.
At Quilting Technologies, we too are consumers and quilters and we
do not like paying for "stuff" at much higher than necessary prices. You
might say we are the Costco or Home Depot of robotic quilting. The
PC Quilter costs a lot less but does as
much or more than most alternatives. It is of very high quality. The
significantly lower price is also because in general, it is not sold
in Quilting stores and Sewing Machine Dealer stores because that would
just about double the price if not more. We do have a few such stores
selling the PC Quilter because they believe in the product and accept the lower
than "normal" markup for that type of store.
Our products have always been reasonably priced - that is part of
our company policy. Good, quality stuff for fellow quilters at
affordable, reasonable prices.
(Top of the
page)
How well does
the PC Quilter sew?
Sewing quality and stitch length control is very good - just
ask someone on our
user
group.
(Top of the
page)
How do I decide
what model of PC Quilter to buy?
All the models can be upgraded with rare exceptions. The
PC Quilter does not become obsolete -
that is by design. It is a company policy to accommodate past
customers when we design new products to the maximum extent possible.
That has been company policy since the beginning.
There are 3 choices. The About PCQ
button on the home page describes the two main choices - Standard
PC Quilter or Side Mounted
PC Quilter. If you buy the Standard
PC Quilter, you have two choices. The
SF model will sew about 30% faster than the F model depending on the
pattern. For patterns that are designed to be sewn fast (long
sweeping arcs and long straight lines), the SF can sew much faster
than the model F.
Sewing machine weight is also a factor. If
your sewing machine weighs about 35 lbs or less, the F model will do.
For heavier sewing machines (especially mid-arms), the SF is a better
choice. Many customers, thinking of the future, do purchase the SF
because the price difference is not significant compared to the total
price. The model F and SF have 15 inches of travel. The model SM
currently has 24 inches of travel.
If you are going to use the PC Quilter
for a business or commercial use, you should purchase the SF or SM
model because speed will be more important.
(Top of the
page)
How reliable is a PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter is designed to
run in a home environment for 10 or more years with only minor
adjustments or repairs (if any). The vast majority of our customers
have never needed a repair or to even adjust it. The structural parts
of the carriage are custom machined to exacting standards and
are designed to be incredibly strong. Everything has been selected to be
reliable. There are no "cheap" components in the
PC Quilter.
(Top of the
page)
How do I
decide which sewing machine to use/purchase?
Many customers ask which sewing machine to use with a
PC Quilter. Probably the biggest concern in selecting a
machine is the throat depth. This is the area beneath the arm of the
machine to the body of the machine. This measurement is the actual
potential sewing area on a machine quilting frame (less the width of
the quilt on the takeup roller)
and is called the throat depth.
There are several choices
-
purchase
a stretched machine which will probably have 13 or 16 inches of
throat depth.
-
purchase
one of the newer 16 - 19 inch mid-arm machines.
Most of your decision will depend on the size of quilts you make, what
sewing machine you already have, and on how much money you have to
spend. Trying to do queen and king quilts with 9 inches of throat
depth is possible but very inconvenient. The sewing
area would become smaller and smaller as the finished quilt becomes
"fat" with finished quilt on the take-up roller. You would also need
to "flip" the quilt half way through. Stretched sewing machines, which
have 13 or 19 inches of throat depth have their drawbacks. They are
usually older machines with no modern features (thread cutter, needle
up/down, etc), may vibrate a lot, or are heavy and therefore cannot be
moved as quickly by the PC Quilter, and may start sewing slowly when
turned on. It is probably fair to say that many people who own an
older machine that has been stretched have a love/hate relationship
with it. They like the extra throat depth and the price and dislike
everything else about it.
There are longer throat depth machines. They range in Price from
$2000 to $6000 or more. Several machines commonly used with the PCQ
are the Homesteader, the Handiquilter 16, and the Voyager (others work
fine too, ask on the User group). Be careful to not be talked into (or
required) to purchase the machine with a stitch regulator - that adds
a lot to the price and is totally unecessary if you just want to do PC
Quilter type quilting. Most customers (but not all) do not mix
free-motion and PC Quilter type quilting on the same quilt - the
free-motion quilting will look bad next to the precision PC Quilter
sewing. More users do not quilt enough to become skilled at free
motion - it takes practice to do well. Do your research carefully
before committing to such an investment.
(Top of the
page)
Are there any problems setting up the
PC Quilter on a home computer?
Most of the time, setting up a PC Quilter
is not difficult or overly time consuming. Most problems
are caused by the customer not reading the instruction book
carefully - just trying to set up the PC
Quilter by instinct. That will not work. Most customers
have never added a "real time device" to their PC so instinct is not
enough. In a few cases, there are PC issues such as other software
on the PC interfering or a port is not compatible. Because the PC
Quilter can connect in parallel, serial, or USB mode, there are
many possibilities to circumvent problems with non-compatible port.
Seeking help from tech support before wasting time or getting really
frustrated is also important
The PC Quilter requires a fully
bidirectional parallel port that is not controlled or otherwise
manipulated by other software on your computer. Our tech support can
walk you through tests as well as changing the BIOS or Port address
of the Parallel port to make sure your settings are correct. In some
cases we may ask you to try the PC Quilter
on another computer. You do not need to move the computer into the
room. You simply take your PC Quilter
to where the computer is, set it on the floor and run the tests our
tech support has asked you to do. This will assist us in eliminating
the most PROBABLE cause of your problems. In a few rare cases, we do
find a PC Quilter that has
developed a problem during shipping or setup. Those problems are
usually solved by shipping a new part to be installed by the user
(with our detailed instructions).
IMPORTANT - PLEASE CALL US IF YOU ARE THINKING OF USING AN IBM
THINKPAD. These laptops have proved troublesome as the parallel
ports are not truly bidirectional.
(Top of the
page)
Do I need a dedicated computer for the
PC Quilter?
While it is not necessary to have a dedicated computer for the
PC Quilter, many programs want FULL
CONTROL of your system and may interfere with the operation of the
PC Quilter.
We have found, for example, that screen savers interfere with the
operation of the PC Quilter. This is
nothing new! They also interfere with printers, modems, etc. Another
culprit is print spoolers which grab control of the parallel port
and want to control the flow of data. Still another is "dongle"
software - which although it may now be hooked into your USB,
sometimes also checks and plays with the parallel port because they
used to make dongles that were there! There are many programs that
might take up too much of the processor time and may cause the PC
Quilter to slow down or act erratically if you were to run them at
the same time.
The PC Quilter can use an OLDER
computer - a Pentium 2 or newer computer will work fine except that
if you digitize your own patterns, it may be slow for just that
task. Such an old computer is normally free or certainly under $100.
It might be in your best interest to consider leaving your newer
main system for designing patterns, surfing, other hobbies, etc. AND
getting a "retired" computer for the PC Quilter. It is also
preferable if the PC you use with the PC
Quilter is not connected to the internet. There are so
many ad-ware and viruses floating around and infecting PC's. Some of
that "unwanted" software will "wake up" every few minutes and check
out what you are doing on your PC. That can happen while you are
quilting and cause less than perfect stitching quality. Having kids
on the same PC you use with the PC Quilter
will probably be a disaster. Most websites of interest to kids and
young adults (and older adults acting like kids) put a LOT of
ad-ware onto your PC.
The computer will need to have Windows XP, Vista
or Windows 7
installed as it's operating system. We DO NOT SUPPORT Windows 95,
98, ME, NT
or 2000.
(Top of the
page)
How much computer knowledge do I need
to have?
You must have a working knowledge of Windows to use the PC
Quilter including the ability to copy files between folders, use
Windows Explorer, organize files using sub-folders, and use to
dialog boxes and pull down menus.. You should also understand what a
file extension is (the .txt or .exe etc) and at least be familiar
with other Windows options - for example - how to get into Control
Panel, etc.
If you intend to design your own patterns, you should also know how
to connect and use a scanner, and save an image to the BMP format. If
you want to digitize images (optional) to create your own pattern
files you should be able to use simple image editing software such as
MSPaint and simple text editing software such as WordPad. Being able
to lay out geometric patterns on graph paper and entering the
corresponding column and row will also be to your advantage but is not
required.
Of course, if you buy all your patterns, you will not need to know
anymore than the basic Windows knowledge, and the ability to edit the
text file to change pattern commands. For more information check our
Order Procedure page. For more information check
our Order Procedure page.
(Top of the
page)
What
versions of Windows does the PC Quilter need to work?
The PC Quilter software
works under Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. It does not work with
Linux or on a Mac. It is NOT designed to work with Windows 95, 98,
ME, 2000
or NT and we cannot support the product on any of these operating
systems. Connecting the PC Quilter
to a computer other than an IBM compatible PC may void your warranty
because you may damage the electronics."
(Top of the
page)
What is
the GUI / QT Menu?
Back in 2001, the PC Quilter
software was originally written as a Command Line Interface (or CLI)
so that it could run on a VERY OLD 486 computer. In other words,
there was no graphical user interface. In almost all situations,
this was not really a drawback. In fact, all versions of the
PC Quilter software will run in
that same mode today. In 2003, we added the GUI or Graphical User
Interface which has a look and feel similar to most of your Windows
applications. That new set of software is called QT Menu. It will
require a slightly more powerful computer if you want snappy
response however we routinely run it on an old Pentium from 1998.
If you want to digitize your own patterns (optional), you will
need a more powerful computer. We recommend a Pentium 4 running at
1.5 GHz with 512Meg of Ram.
(Top of the
page)
How long have you been making the PC
Quilter?
The PC Quilter has been in production
since June 2001. The PC Quilter is
working away on 5 continents (only Antarctica needs one - any
volunteers?).
(Top of the
page)
Where is the PC
Quilter made?
The PC Quilter is made in our factories near Port
Townsend, Washington with
American labor.
(Top of the
page)
Do I have to pay
Sales Tax on the PC Quilter?
Only if we are shipping it to the State of Washington and in Canada,
where the government will hold the package ransom until you pay GSP/PST
(or HST). In Canada, these fees are normally payable in cash at the
time of delivery, although if you are picking it up at your local
post office, they normally accept debit card.
(Top of the
page)
Can the PC
Quilter be shipped to Canada without paying duty?
Yes, qualifies under NAFTA for duty free entry into Canada - we
include a NAFTA certificate of origin document on the box. Please
note that you will still have to pay GST & PST (or HST) on the
Canadian dollar value of the PC Quilter
as well as a brokerage fee of between $5 - $45 depending on the
method you wish us to ship it
(Top of the
page)
Do you ship
internationally?
Yes, and the PC Quilter comes with an
international power supply for use in all countries in the world
(you just replace plug for 110/220 AC).
(Top of the
page)
Will the PC
Quilter work with mid-arms and long-arms?
Yes, the
PC
Quilter works with
long-arms if you purchase our Side Mounted (SM) model which has 24
inches of "front to back" travel. Longer travel is available by
special order at an increased cost.
It will require that the customer
mount 2 small parts on their long-arm sewing head carriage so that
it can "dock" with the Side Mounted PC Quilter. The parts are very
adjustable to fit a wide range of long-arms (mid-arms too). In those
cases, when our parts will not work for your particular make and
model of long-arm, we can have special parts made at a nominal cost
if you provide the dimensions of your carriage and what it rolls on
and pictures too. Or, you can have them made. They are simple parts.
Keep in mind that sewing out very
detailed patterns will be at about .75 - 1.0 inches per second -
less than the speed you probably use for free-motion (nobody can sew
such detail in free-motion). However, patterns designed for fast
sewing will sew at well over 1 inch per second - depending on the
weight of your sewing head. Such patterns have long flowing curves
and straight lines. The software then automatically does "ramping
up" and "ramping down" at all sharp turns in the pattern. Adding the
Side Mounted
PC
Quilter
to a long-arm requires that
you have some mechanical skills - most long-arm owners do.
(Top of the
page)
Do you need reps
for the PC Quilter?
There are many areas across the US and Canada that currently do not
have reps. The duties of a PC Quilter
representatives include demonstrating the PC
Quilter at major quilt shows and contacting quilting stores
and major quilt guilds to demonstrate the PC
Quilter. Please e-mail us at
pcqrep@pcquilter.com and
request the information package on becoming a rep (or in the case of
a retail store, a reseller). For more information see also
Become a Dealer
(Top of the
page)
What kind of
Computer Works Best with the PC Quilter?
In general, any major brand such as HP and Compaq will work. Any
modern PC you can buy today is more than enough. Sometimes we have
configuration problems on off-brand PC's. Do not necessarily buy the
cheapest PC but on the other hand, you do not at all need the most
expensive.
The PC
Quilter needs 100% of your computer's attention when it is
running. The rest of the time, it doesn't matter. That means that
you need to have a computer that is free of ad ware, programs
running in the background, and extra processes that are so commonly
"preloaded" on new computers today.
If you are going to use an older, used PC, that is often just
fine for the PC Quilter. If you are
also going to digitize (optional) on that PC, that may be too slow.
If the old PC is free or very inexpensive, you can always try it and
see if the digitizing speed is too slow. If you don't digitize often
(that is the normal situation), you may not mind that it is a bit
slow when doing just that. But the PC Quilter
will work just fine on almost any computer running Windows XP, Vista
and Windows 7.
The best type of computer to use is one with a real parallel
port, a serial port, and a USB port. As of 2007, it is difficult to
buy a new laptop with a parallel or serial port. Many older laptops
do have either a parallel or serial port or both plus a USB port -
they all work fine for a PC Quilter.
Older desktop PC's tend to have a parallel or serial port or both.
If a desktop does not have a parallel port or serial port, it is
inexpensive to add one. It is not easy to add a parallel or serial
port to a laptop. Desktops also offer the advantage of being less
expensive than laptops, and you can typically get much more memory,
processor speed and a bigger display for less money. If in doubt
about a PC you are going to buy, ask us.
Another approach some customers use is to buy a PC that has a 30
day free return privilege and then make sure you try it on the
PC Quilter way before that 30 day deadline expires. Allow
time for getting help from tech support if you have setup issues.
(Top of the
page)
Is the PC
Quilter hardware or software?
The PC Quilter is a combination
of hardware, electronics, software and patterns. The
PC Quilter system includes a carriage
containing motors, electronics, and other parts. The
PC Quilter carriage replaces the
carriage on your machine quilting system or quilt frame. The
PC Quilter also includes software that
lets you quilt detailed, elaborate patterns or simple patterns -
there is no restriction on what is allowed in a pattern.
Patterns can be purchased inexpensively or you can design your
own and use the included digitizing software to create the pattern
from a drawing or scanned image.
(Top of the
page)
How close does
my computer need to be to the PC Quilter?
Your PC needs to be within 25 feet (the maximum length of the
parallel port cable) of the PC Quilter
and needs to be in the same room.
You cannot run the PC Quilter from
another part of your house using a network (yes, some have asked
that question).' Realistically, you will want the
PC Quilter quite close to your computer
for convenience - usually to the right or left of your quilt screen.
(Top of the
page)
Can a physically
challenged person use the PC Quilter?
Absolutely. We have several handicapped users because they can
mostly sit down while quilting and are not using their hands, backs
or shoulders as you do in free-motion quilting. This is because the
actual operation of the PC Quilter is
computer based and requires little physical effort. In many cases,
physically challenged users have lifts on their mobility devices, so
it assists them in viewing the quilt from the top and making
adjustments when rolling the quilt. However, they MAY need
assistance when mounting the quilt tops on the quilt frame.
(Top of the
page)
What frames does
the PC Quilter work with?
The PC Quilter works with most quilting frames such as:
HandiQuilter™
www.handiquilter.com*
Hinterberg Machine frame
www.hinterberg.com*
New Joy Quilting Table
www.newjoyquilting.com*
Grace Machine Quilter
www.graceframe.com*
Pennywinkle Valley Ranch
www.pennywinklevalleyranch.com*
B-Line Home Quilting System
www.tobequilting.com*
SuperQuilter
www.superquilter.com*
and many others, including
home-built frames
* modifications may be required
to these frames to accommodate the PC Quilter carriages or to
strengthen the frame for use with the PC Quilter.
The PC
Quilter will NOT work with frames where the QUILT moves (such
as John Flynn's frame). The PC Quilter
works only on frames that have a carriage on tracks that move across
the quilt.
(Top of the
page)
What changes do
I need to make to my quilt frame to use the PC Quilter?
Depending on your quilt frame, you might not need ANY changes. Most
changes involve strengthening the poles, or raising the side pieces,
or adjusting the spacing of the tracks, or adding an extra (third)
track. Be sure to tell us what kind of quilt frame you are using
when you order.
In some cases, there are simple
adapter kits to adjust the PC Quilter
to work with your frame. Those are available from us or the frame
manufacturer depending on which frame you are using. If you have not
purchased a quilt frame, PLEASE talk with us first. We work with all
the frames and we can advise which are rigid and have the best
features etc. The best frame is not always the most expensive frame.
Some frames are too flimsy for good results. Visit the various quilt
frame sites to educate yourself and then ask questions on the
user
groups.
(Top of the
page)
Can I make my
own frame?
Yes, we can provide you with information when you purchase your
PC Quilter. If you look at various
frames and you look at pictures on the
PC
Quilter user groups, it is easy to see what is needed. We cannot
provide specific plans because that could violate some manufacturers
patent rights. But we can guide you in the right direction after you
have reviewed the quilt frames you can purchase.
(Top of the
page)
Where do I get
patterns for the PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter comes with some simple
patterns and some additional patterns are available on this website
and on the
PC Quilter Users Group. In addition, patterns can be
purchased from third party sources.
QuiltRecipes.com, for example, carries a line of patterns
already digitized for the PC Quilter.
Popular designers such as Ann Bright and Georgette Dell'Orco are also starting to carry
PC Quilter Patterns, for more
information see Pattern Sources.
Ask on the
PC
Quilter user groups for other sources. The
PC Quilter is currently the most common robotic machine
quilting system so many designers sell PC
Quilter ready patterns. There are more than 3000 patterns
available so there is no shortage of choices. And you can always
scan in drawings and digitize them (please don't violate copyrights
of designers - it is usually OK to copy for personal use if you
purchased that pattern from the designer or authorized dealer. It is
usually not OK to buy or copy or use patterns to put on items you
are going to sell. Dover publications has lots of books with
drawings that can be made into patterns and are copyright free
(public domain).
(Top of the
page)
How do I get
software updates for the PC Quilter?
Software updates are currently provided free of charge to owners of
the PC Quilter. Updates to the software
may include many new features, so it is to your advantage as an
owner to download the current version. Some new features are added
at an additional cost and will be advertised as such. You will
require a password to access this area. Please e-mail
support@pcquilter.com
with your e-mail address, preferred password, real name, phone
number, state or province where you reside, and the approximate date
you purchased your PC Quilter for access to our special
Users Area.
(Top of the
page)
What kind of
warranty and support is included with the PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter comes with a six
month warranty if used for personal use or even if shared by two
people. If it is used for commercial use or a large group of
quilters such as a club, the warranty is for 90 days. Warranty
repair is usually done by sending the customer the required part and
the customer installing it using our detailed instructions. Warranty
repair does not include the cost of shipping The
PC Quilter is so reliable that repairs
are rare. Some adjustments may be needed over time which are done by
the user.
Six months of software/technical support
is provided for ONE individual who can read and understand the
instruction book and who knows Windows reasonably well. After six
months, you can buy an additional six months of support/warranty at
the prevailing prices.
(Top of the
page)
Is the PC
Quilter difficult to set up and get working?
The PC Quilter is usually easy to set
up and get running - it requires 2-3 hours of time to get it
unpacked, put on your frame and make minor tweaks of your PC (if
needed). Occasionally, a user encounters problems because of PC
issues. Read the
Agreement to Purchase on our website to fully understand what is
required of you and what you can expect from us.
(Top of the
page)
I don't
understand instruction books but can I still buy a PC Quilter?
No, you must be willing to read the manual and be able to understand
simple but detailed, clearly written instructions. The manual is not
written in "techie" or "geekish". There are many diagrams and
explanations in the manual. We receive many compliments on it.
Updated versions of the manual are free from our website. The helper
must read the manual and understand the basics of your quilting
frame and sewing machine.
(Top of the
page)
I don't
understand much about my PC but can I still buy a PC Quilter?
That can be OK if you have a family member or friend who is willing
to assist you in operating it. They need to have the appropriate
skills and should live nearby. Only that approved helper can call
tech support (because that is necessary to track down a problem and
help you fix it).
(Top of the
page)
Can I use my
Handi Handles with the PC Quilter?
There is no way to use the Handi Handles with the
PC Quilter, BUT Quilting Technologies
offers an Electronic Switching Device (ESD) to turn your sewing
machine off and on and control the speed.
(Top of the
page)
Does the PC
Quilter have a Stitch Regulator?
Your home computer works with the PC Quilter
to regulate stitch speed and stitch length for the pattern that
is being sewn. There is no need for a separate stitch regulator. In
fact, if you have one, you would need to turn it off.
You should be aware that some
sewing machine dealers or reps will refuse to sell you a sewing
machine if you do not buy it with the expensive stitch regulator.
Even if they know it is not needed for the PC
Quilter, they will not sell it without. We suggest that you
look elsewhere.
If you want a stitch regulator
for free-motion quilting, that is another matter. But they are so
expensive that you should be sure you want to do free-motion
quilting and that you like the end result (how good it looks or
NOT!). Most quilters are not good at free-motion - it takes a lot of
practice. It is also hard on your back and shoulders. If you did
become experienced, you then would probably turn off the stitch
regulator and not use it (that is what long-arm experts tell us). So
save yourself some money. In some cases, the savings will pay for
your PC Quilter.
(Top of the
page)