kgg

To further what @Constabulary said here is a line from ISAC.net about the Singer 17-2 ( https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer-class-17-sewing-machines.html ) " Machine No. 17-2 has drop-feed across arm at right of needle and is used for closing the seams of Shot or other bags after they are filled, sewing buckram on Jean Pants, Pocketbook manufacture, etc. " Personally I think you should be looking for machines similar to at least a Juki LS-341 or clone depending on the thread size / toughness of the leather (chrome tan or veg tan). With old machines when you get into the 75 year bracket whether they are brand name or clone finding replacement parts can be expensive or sometimes impossible to find. If you can't find parts you wind up with a pretty boat anchor. When setup properly it is a game changer as you get the presser foot, the needle and the feed dog moving your item along particularity on thick items or multi layers. kgg

Basically you saved about $1200 USD or more for a similar machine being sold in the US. kgg

Looks good. You really should flush the machine prior to doing any real sewing to get any bits of manufacturing stuff out of the machine. Oil everything just not what is suggested. If it is metal touching metal oil it. Two questions: 1) Is that a plastic pulley on the servo motor?? 2) Cost Here is a couple of pdf's for the Juki LS-341 that may help. kgg 341 engineer manual.pdf Juki LS-1340&42 Servcie Manual.pdf Juki_LS-341N_Engineers_Manual.pdf Juki_LS-341N_Instruction_Manual.pdf

From the information I was able to find it is a zig zag drop feed machine made for fabric. Here is a pdf of the Instruction manual. kgg CONSEW+2457R-1A+INSTRUCTION+MANUAL.pdf

Sorry. Best of luck. kgg

The question should be will a 15 ton press be sufficient to handle what you need. I would get the suppliers to do the calculations for you. Once you have that answered then you will be better able to determine what the best machine for your needs and budget would be regardless of supplier. kgg

Without a photo people are just shooting in the dark. I don't know of any data base of PFAFF machines listing date of manufacture. PFAFF doesn't seem to have kept recorders like Singer. The best anyone can do is view a photo and from certain features say it is an old casing or new casting or by the colour which ranged from everything from diaper stain brown to off white. Except for the new PFAFF manuals appear to change very little over time and when they did they changed the model number. Post a photo for better help and a detail of the information on the nameplate. kgg

I can only say the photo of the thread to the top pin looks like an 8 oz spool of inexpensive Chinese thread. Your video doesn't work. kgg

My suggestions to try: i) Your top threading is incorrect. a) The first guide after the top pin should be at the 12 o'clock position b) you have the thread wrapping around and over the pin in the first top thread tensioner. It should go between the tension disc of the top thread tensioner and straight down to the next set of discs for the thread takeup. Section 9 THREAD THE MACHINE HEAD of the manual. If you don't have a manual I have attached a screen shot of the proper threading and a pdf of the manual. ii) This machine is a unison / compound machine made for medium to heavy weight materials. The material you are using looks like a thin fairly stiff material similar to ripstop or a very tightly woven fabric. a) bulk up the material b) reduce presser foot tension c) make sure the fabric isn't being sucked into the needle plate hole d) use a leather point needle to cut the material rather then a fabric needle which will try to separate fibres before punching through d) Wrong machine for the job try using a domestic sewing machine or needle feed needle. kgg instruction_eg.pdf

Glad to be of some help. kgg

Very nicely done. My suggestions on speed reduction: i) if you need to slow down the machine and reduce servo motor "speed jump" you should add in a speed reducer pulley. Most of the brushless servo motors have a minimum startup speed of 500 rpm and a pulley size of 50mm. With some of the brushless servo motors the initial increase in speed from 0 to 500 rpm, speed jump, can be a problem. With your arrangement by increasing the size of the hand-wheel pulley size from 2 3/4" (70mm) to approximately something just under 4.5" say 110mm you did gain some reduction in speed. Example A: i) Without the new hand-wheel pulley the speed of would have been 357.1 rpm with a minimum startup speed of 500 rpm at the servo motor. ii) With the new hand-wheel pulley the speed would be reduced to 227.3 rpm with a minimum startup speed of 500 rpm at the servo motor. To help with smoothing out the speed jump with the side benefit of increased torque install a speed reducer pulley between the servo motor and the new hand-wheel pulley. Example B: 1) With the new hand-wheel pulley and a minimum startup speed of 500 rpm at the servo motor. i) install a 3:1 speed reducer pulley having a typical size of 6" large pulley and 52mm" small pulley the speed of the new hand-wheel pulley will be reduced to 78 rpm If you had just used the original hand-wheel pulley size of 2 3/4" (70mm) and a minimum startup speed of 500 rpm at the servo motor the speed would have been reduced to 122 rpm at the hand-wheel. kgg

When you get the Singer 15-90 freed up be aware it is an old domestic drop feed sewing machine. Nether the Singer 15-90 or the Singer 29-k2 are meant to do tack work. The Singer 29K2 was last made around 100 years ago finding parts could be difficult or near impossible to find so you may windup with a boat anchor. I would suggest you read this article about what sewing machine you should be looking at for your needs. Buy Once, Cry Once kgg

Just so you know the Juki DLN 415 is a needle feed high speed garment (fabric) machine not meant as leather sewing machine except for maybe some very thin upholstery class leather. The max needle is a DB x 1 (16 x 231) x size 22 needle so it good for max V92. I would tilt the machine back and see it the reverse lever mechanism isn't jammed or seized-up. Here is a pdf of the manual. Juki DLN-415 Instruction Manual.pdf

Nearly 5 months, that's way to long a time-frame. Why so long?? Why not do a video dump of the course so individuals can review then pick and choose what parts maybe appropriate for them? Since your company is in China ( https://jinglinmachine.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq11e89sz6k-gwr_MvnnFWrXn2mTgNU2aJrJ60DGEhRVdGXQ5W6 ) the cost of your equipment would probably be prohibitive if subject to tariffs for US customers at I believe 145%. Example: Your EC-17 with a letter holder would be $600 (assuming USD) subject to tarrifs would cost 600 + 870 (tarrif) = $1470 USD versus a Weaver Foil and Hot stamp machine ( https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/products/foil-and-hot-stamping-machine?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf ) would cost $870 USD. kgg

The only way I know is hot stamping. The tradition way of stamping only works with veg tan. This article may help. kgg

You should try Old English which is still spoken in some NFLD. communities at speeds that would put an auctioneer to shame. Simple Example: "Come to he the once" in modern English it means--> I'll be right there.

I feel your pain. Interesting design so the belt is now multilingual. kgg

Another alternative is find someone with a 3D printer and they show be able to do one up in the size you need. The cost of the actual 3D print would be less then $2.00 in materials but getting the design replicated is going to be costly. kgg

Hoffman Brothers in Des Plaines, Illinois. https://hoffmanbrothers.com/ kgg

I can understand that. I find it gets a little harder as you become an old geezer like me. kgg

Overall a good brand name flatbed machine however they are getting really long in the tooth, old. If the machine was used in a commercial environment be very very careful as chances are it was beat to death and have someone check the machine out even if it is being sold by a vendor. You don't want any unexpected repairs. Some photo's would help determine it overall condition. That said if was owned by a hobbyist from the beginning it could be a very good machine. What are they asking for the machine??? What is your realistic budget???? If it is the one in the Kijiji add for $750?? https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-business-industrial/oakville-halton-region/juki-563-industrial-sewing-machine/1714150747 If it is then right off the bat you will need to change the motor from a clutch motor to servo motor so add another $200 to the price so now you will be up to $950. The reason for the motor change is unless you are use to using clutch motors the learning curve can be very steep. A servo motor is a lot less noisy, more energy efficient as they are not running all the time and it will give you the controllable speed needed for sewing leather items. It is an ex commercial machine and has been used a lot by the wear on the flatbed. Ask for a picture of the underside of the machine particularly the timing belt as if it is worn out it will probably cost another $200 for it's replacement. kgg

Nicely done. kgg

Good idea. But can't you just 3D print one which would cost less then $2? kgg

There are two basic styles of machines cylinder arm and flatbed machines. The term "free arm" I think came from the introduction of the Singer model 222k Featherweight back in the 1940's that had a "free-arm sleeve". That reference to the style then got further shorten to "free arm" by the domestic sewers. There are basically three common forms of how material fabric or leather is moved along to the rear of the machine. i) by the feed dog along with a drop down presser foot that just keeps tension on the material as the needle enters. Typically seen in domestic sewing machines. ii) by the feed dog along with a presser foot that keeps tension on the material but moves in coordination with the feed dog to move the material along. Typically referred to as a walking foot machine. iii) The same as walking foot with the additional feature of the needle also moving the material along. Typically referred to as a compound or triple feed. To short answer to your question of whether a walking foot flatbed machine will sew bags and purses easily the answer is No. Things that are flat like a wallet or belt is best sewn on a flatbed machine and things that are round are best sewn on cylinder arm machines. Keep in mind that you can sorta kinda turn a cylinder arm into a flatbed machine with a flatbed attachment but you can not turn a flatbed machine into a cylinder arm machine. If you come across a machine but are unsure of it's capabilities just ask but include the model of the machines you are looking at. I am sure someone can give you the pro's and con's for most models and manufacturers. Example: Flatbed Juki DU 1181n (walking foot) Juki DNU 1541S (compound feed) Cylinder Arm Juki LS 341 or LS 1341 (compound feed)

You using the 3D printer for what it was intended to do, make work easier. kgg