ANSWERS TO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS(F.A.Q's)
ABOUT
COMPUTERIZED SEWING MACHINES-part 1
This page contains answers to common questions regarding BETA systems, their capabilities and their suitability for different types of production.
*What are the advantages of BETA's computerized sewing machines?
*What is the time required to prepare programs for a new model?
*How are the pallets produced?
The program for the milling of the pallets is produced as a by-product of the sewing program.It is written using standard MILLING MACHINES instructions language and is loaded onto a diskette or directly downloaded to any simple milling system, such as the ENCIMILL OFF MACHINE/ON MACHINE made by BETA, which is capable of reading these code. The blank pallet, mounted on the milling system, will then be cut according to the program within minutes.
*How are BETA sewing programs Created?
The sewing programs are created by a special software package, developed at BETA, called ENCICAD.This software is a simple to use WYSIWYG graphic design package.This software can be installed on a simple IBM PC or compatible computer, and it may be used as a stand-alone programming station, or may be interfaced with most of the known shoe design systems,like:
USM-CRISPIN,GST-FDS,CLARCKS-SHOEMASTER,PROCAM-PADSY/TASC/DIMENSIONS, LECTRA SYSTEM,TESEO,etc.
*Where does BETA's machines take the shoe design market?
The machine's most important feature is the KIS (keep it simple) approach integrated with high technology computerized stitching. This characteristic enables the operator to easily and accurately generate complex designs. Results obtained with BETA machines, will not be obtained in manual sewing and are equivalent to results obtained by VERY EXPENSIVE computerized sewing machines having the"vision" ability.
*Why, in fact, is a computer controlled sewing machine required in your sewing room?
Our experience shows that customers that chose the technology rout in their sewing room,manufactured a higher quality,more consistent product resulting in a very low reject rate.These customers were also able to save money on material,labor,overhead and training costs.In addition these customers were also better equipped to deal with the rise and fall in work contents due to change in order situation.
*What is the machine's sewing speed?
The maximum sewing speed of the machine is (subject to head model) 3000 spm (stitches per minute). The sewing head speed is controlled by the computer, according to the material thickness, the required stitch length and any speed limitation requested by the user.
*What is the quality control function of the BETA machines?
Quality Control is automatically maintained during preparation for computerized stitching .If ,during preparing for production of a new model, the operator detects differences in material location, size or shape, that are above a user definable limit, he will halt. He can then decide whether to disqualify the part ,the cutting die or the pallet,after which he will take the necessary means to correct the error and than continue to prepare for production.
*What is the difference between BETA's pallets and other pallets?
**One difference is the fact BETA uses pallets and not clamps.This characteristic enables higher productivity(30%-50%) as there is no machine idle time(except for pallet change 1-2 secs.)
**Another difference is in that BETA's simple pallets are equipped with a "smart" attaching bar which enables automatic program detection of up to 255 programs,thus, eliminating human errors .This "smart bar" also have a perfectly accurate dual location slot which makes sure that the pallet never loose its relative position during stitching or milling.
**Another difference is in the simplicity of the pallet, as the sewing program is also the milling program making a new pallet is a very simple and fast tasc.
**Another difference is that BETA'S pallets are the only pallets that are loaded directly onto the machine without the need for an ON/OFF loading device.This lowers the machine cost and generates a fast pallets changing(about 1-2 sec.)
**Last, but not least,BETA'S pallets are the only ones that move on one horizon.This enables the creation of pinless applications as material does not move much during stitching.
*What is the functional reliability of the machine?
The machine is simple to operate and has been robustly built complying with high standards. Experience has shown that the machine is highly trustworthy and has a very quick learning curve. Customers have been using BETA sewing machines in 1-3 shifts 5-7 days a week for the last 29 years...
*What are the advantages of BETA's computerized sewing machines?
Beta's computerized sewing machines have a number of advantages as follows:
** Increased production (30% and more, compared to other systems).
** Improved sewing quality and consistency.
** Very short learning curve to production.
** A competitive price.
** Ease of programs generation and operations.
** Substantial savings on labor and material cost.
** Extremely low reject rates in your sewing room.
*What kind of file formats are compatible with ENCICAD?
The ENCICAD software may be fed data in the following formats:
- fds-GST , dxf (ProCAM, Rising Start, TESEO, Crispin, Shoemaster) ,iso 6893 (Lectra systems), any other HPGL generating system.
-In addition data may be generated by using the machine as a digitizer(while in DIGI mode) or connecting the ENCICAD to a DIGITIZING TABLE.
*What is the time required to prepare programs for a new model?
It takes six to eight hours, for a proficient user (having 1 month of experience), to generate the programs for all sizes of a new model.
*What do I need to be able to operate BETA Sewing Systems?
The BETA system is based on a computerized sewing system, computer controlled on or off machine pallets milling system and a personal computer (P.C.) to generate the programs for milling the pallets, and sewing the uppers.
*What is the whole process "Step by Step" since receiving the upper pieces from the cutting department, until the complete stitch program is ready?
The design process starts actually before the pieces come from the cutting room. Already in the designing stage of the shoe upper parts, holes are added on the cardboard designs that make the dyes. These holes are necessary for the upper parts to be placed in the pallets securely (via pins). At this time we begin making the pallet and the sew program. The sewing design process takes place parallel to the dye making. Once the dyes are ready and the cut parts are in place, the BETA system is ready and waiting to start sewing.This holes will not be necessary if the application enables the implementation of a PINLESS pallet.
