dikman

I found this for you (didn't take long) it may be of some help. You could try asking Pfaff about a controller but I suspect the cost would be high - if they have one. The chances of getting one used would probably be low. Pity, it looks like a nice motor. Good luck. picodrive_p40pd.pdf

The feet look like they might be piping feet, a photo of the bottom of them would confirm it.

I have no doubt these motors are good (they're made by Hightex) but here they're a ridiculous price. I bought "generic" servos and built speed reducers for considerably less cost and they all work fine for my needs. I guess for commercial usage the cost isn't so much a factor - but how many factories want such a slow speed machine? In most factories the speed of making something is very important (time is money) so paying extra for a slow speed you don't need is wasting money. It seems to me it's a pretty specific (and limited) market this motor is catering for? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to change my servos for these but the cost would be absurd, ain't going to happen.

Don't forget the take-up spring adjustment.

It's a tension issue, although I'm not sure why it happens on the curve. I would have thought a manual machine would be less likely to do that. You can see it on the stitches around the curve, you've either lost top tension or bottom tension has increased. Again,

Tooling leather looks easy - until you try it! You've made a start, now you just need lots of practice to refine your techniques. Keep at it.

That is an interesting mod.

Like friquant said, everything about sewing machines is a compromise, the 160 needle might fit in the needle hole but is likely to be a problem once you add the thickness of the thread. Best way is to try it at the dealers but I would imagine #138/Tex 135 would be the limit. That was good of them to admit they made a mistake and allow an exchange.

Max of 8mm? That thing is definitely overkill, it's a 441-class machine, a harness stitcher!! It's too late now but you should have found out what options the seller has then ask here as to suitability. They should never have sold you a machine like that for what you are sewing.

I can't answer your question but I'm jealous!! Fancy finding a hunk of machinery like that at the dump!

It sounds like your machine has a clutch motor - big, heavy and fast! It takes a lot to learn to feather the clutch on these to go slow (I couldn't do it!). If so what you need is a servo motor, possibly in conjunction with a pulley speed reducer. This will enable you to sew slow without worrying about it accidentally taking off like a runaway freight train.

(This is for Al, not you friquant). In my early experiments I made a pulley out of wood - but it was a lot smaller! If you paint it black it might blend in better. Anyhow, as long as it works is the main thing. I wonder how it would go on a 441?

Looks like a good book, I've added it to my collection.

What are you actually going to use it for? If hammering rivets etc on it then aluminium will be too soft and will mark easily, steel plate will have to be pretty thick to avoid bounce when hammering. That's why anvils are so good (even little ones), they have mass to resist bounce.

Well, that's......different. Excellent workmanship.