Help, Embroidery machine is sick

[jaxsunst]

We have a Brother PC8200 machine. It had started being real inaccurate on the designs. Then yesterday, I turned it on, and a grid with numbers appeared on the touch screen and I couldn't get it to do anything.

I was told today, that it is a control board and the cost to replace it will be around $800, does that sound right? I paid $2300 for the machine around 5 years ago.

If that is correct, I am thinking about trading it in. Any suggestions?

 

[tolivac]

Try turning it off and unplugging it for like overnight-then try turning it on again.Sounds like its like some computers-it needs to "reboot".If it still doesn't work-try calling the manufacturers servicecenter?I would think before trying to trade it in-you would need to have the device fixed.Don't think the machine would have any value as a trade in if it isn't functional.

 

[panthera]

good idea - also

The overnight trick often works, also - most of these devices have a more direct means of "reseting" or "rebooting". You will need to either check the fine print in the operator's guide or see if you can't find a service manual.
But for 800$ I would expect a technician and software expert to come to my house and rewrite the code into it by hand.
Oh - there is the chance that all those numbers also mean something is mechanically not in order, give that a check, too. My sewing machine kept flashing weird numbers, I thought it was dead...turned out they were it's way of saying one of the incremental motors had died. Seventy-five dollars and two hours work, not 1200$ for a new one, cause nothing can be done with these "modern" machines as the shop said, and I was back in business.
Keep us up to date...

 

[panthera]

8200 update to8500

Something I just remembered - and it may be wrong, I sew a lot but this is not my area...wasn't it possible to update the 8200 to a 8500?
Might be worth checking into that. Perhaps the "update" is the reason for this exhorbitant price...
A friend of mine just sent me the pdf of the instruction manual for this machine - all 180 pages - she doesn't remember ever having this problem, nor could I find it in the trouble-shooting section. But I would be happy to send you the pdf, should you need it...
Oh, she mentioned these machines are traded regularly in women's groups, sewing groups and e-bay. I would be careful of e-bay, but bet you would have luck in a group where you could actually try one out.
Oh, Nanc also said the memory cards could cause her's to flip out with some funky error messages sometimes. Perhaps?
Good luck!

 

[tolivac]

Sounds like you need to visit the Brother Sewing machine website-that could make sense if the model#8200 unit could be upgraded to 8500 if its just a software change in the electronics-are the physical and mechanical functions of the 8200-8500 the same?To do it probably would involve changing boards in the machine.I don't think I would want to get a sewing machine from e-Bay-since like many other things--you need to try it before you buy.also I wonder how well the seller would pack the machine and how well it would survive the shipping trip to get to you-don't think sewing machines would withstand the shipping companies "baggage handler" gorillas.

 

[jaxsunst]

Thanks.

The shop I took it to was a generic sewing and vacuum center. I am going to take it to a real Brother dealer (where we bought it) tomorrow.

When we bought the machine, the 8500 had just come out. At that time the only difference was software and $300.

I looked on Brother's web site and they still make the 8500, and they sell for around $3K. If it needs a new board, I may as well have it upgraded. My wife and I love the machine, she taught me to sew a few years back, and we do it together. We mostly make things for the kids, and for around the house.

We have two machines the Brother and a 10 year old Singer. The Singer is one of the last heavy Singers. It is built like a tank. I prefer to use the Brother for everything and my wife likes the Singer better for sewing.

Of course, this would happen now. We are making shirts for a big extended family Disney trip. My wife bought a CD of Disney designs, and we are making shirts for everyone.

 

[jaxsunst]

Thanks.

The shop I took it to was a generic sewing and vacuum center. I am going to take it to a real Brother Service Center/Dealer (where we bought it) tomorrow.

When we bought the machine, the 8500 had just come out. At that time the only difference was software and $300.

I looked on Brother's web site and they still make the 8500, and they sell for around $3K. If it needs a new board, I may as well have it upgraded. My wife and I love the machine, she taught me to sew a few years back, and we do it together. We mostly make things for the kids, and for around the house.

We have two machines the Brother and a 10 year old Singer. The Singer is one of the last heavy Singers. It is built like a tank. I prefer to use the Brother for everything and my wife likes the Singer better for sewing.

Of course, this would happen now. We are making shirts for a big extended family Disney trip. My wife bought a CD of Disney designs, and we are making shirts for everyone.

 

[gregm]

ask jetcone

"JC" aka "Jon" aka "jetcone" has an embroidery business. Ask him, I don't know if he has info or knows about your machine persay. But doesn't hurt to ask, I am suprised he didn't respond to this post, maybe he did read it and doesn't know or he did not see this post....... best of luck

 

[petek]

Jetcone appears to be knee deep in water at the moment. This is what scares me about digital anythings these days. My KA Superba stove with the digital oven/timer controls is only about 6 years old and the "hour" digit of the clock/timer has gone kaput, banging it worked for awhile but no longer it seems. Thankfully it's part of the sale of the house so I don't have to bother repairing it because I know it's gonna cost a few hundred to be repaired. What's even more annoying is that my GE and two Amana mw's with digital display are all 20 plus years old and have no problems with their displays.

 

[tolivac]

A newer WP-KA dishwasher I put in a few years ago got blown AGAIN during a bad thunderstorm-next to Florida-The Carolinas get the next worst ones.I wonder if the sitting in the corner"reset" the electronics like the sewing machine??Sometimes a long rest is what something of the digital things need.I like the Hobart machine I got better.It has an electromechanical timer-so the storms are not a worry.I sort of knew things weren't so great with WP-KA dishwashers when it got blown 1WEEK after being installed.It replaced a Hotpoint BOL machine that sounded like a B-52 in your kitchen when it was going.

 

[panthera]

digital reliability

It is possible to design digital equipment to be reliable and long-lived. Unfortunately, however, it is vey easy to design such equipment without paying attention to its special needs.
Mechanical designs have to have a certain minimum of stability in order to work at all. Digital circuits built without proper EMF protection or diode protection (or just plain badly cold-soldered and non-ventilated) only work as long as they are in the laboratory.
It is, sadly, exactly those things which would let them live as long as their mechanical cousins which get cut first by the young dynamic manager idiots who run the companies today.
Surge protectors (good ones, not the el-cheapos you get for 5$ at Home Depot) really can help, as can proper grounding. But a storm front which can crank out a tornado or a hurricane is putting out enough, call it "EMF", to kill anything.

 

[tolivac]

yes,the storms here can kill almost anything-another "casulty" was a Panasonic phone--One that I liked-the one I have now-to be honest-hate the thing-the remote cordless handpeaice doesn't work worth a damm-gave up on it-it doesn't charge well-and--sometimes drains the battery when it is in the charging stand-poor design.Their older one was better-too bad the cordless handpeices werent't interchangeable-the old one wouldn't work on the new phone base.This new Panasonic phone keeps going-has been thru many storms-sometimes HOPE it get blown out!I can agree on the digital controls-they can be more reliable if the compnaies manger idiots would allow it.I just don't like the day when EVERYTHING has to be plugged into a surge protected outlet box.The mechanical systems are at least simple-and sometimes you can even FIX them.I am even thinking about disconnecting the wired phone-My cell phone is used more and more-its pretty reliable-to the point just as good as wired phones-and cell towers are sprouting around here like mushrooms.

 

[tolivac]

back to the sewing machine-does it have a computer "port" like a printer-seems like sewing machines can be a computer "periphral" device(not sure of the spelling) like a computer printer.Can you download patterns or whatever into the sewing machine from a computer?Maybe you can redownload its programs.Speaking of other things to plug into your computer to program it--Blendtec makes their "ABS" series blenders that you can program their mixing programs from a computer.Did Brother include a computer disc of the sewing machines programs when you bought the machine?

 

[jaxsunst]

No, the machine doesn't have any kind of ports, it uses design cards. We have an USB device called a "Magic Box", it allows us to write designs from the computer to a card.

I fell ill last night, so my wife is picking the machine up today, and I'm taking it to the Brother place tomorrow.

What would you do with a blender that would need programming?

 

[tolivac]

The Blendtec blender has 5 mixing cycles on its pushbuttons-you can call up to 25 others by pressing the buttons in a code to change them.Many blenders today have several pushbuttons not for selecting speeds-but for drink mixing cycles-such as milkshakes,coffee drinks,smoothies,etc.You can cutomize the Blendtec one to meet your mixing needs.It is kinda neat.I have one that doesn't have the computer connection.Vita Mix makes a similar machine.

A Superior Blending Experience

Blendtec blenders are the culmination of engineering, design and functionality.

www.blendtec.com

 

[panthera]

Jackson,

I hope you and your machine feel better soon.
Keven

 

[jaxsunst]

Update

Took the machine to the Brother Dealer. The board that controls the touch screen is out, and the "needle bar" is bent. The estimate was $600. Which was better than the first estimate.

I had to go get it. I just dropped $8.5K for tuition for both of my kids and funds are a little tight. I am going to get it fixed sometime in June.

 

[panthera]

thanks for the update

Ouch, that must hurt. I am sure sorry to hear that - even if the price is, relatively, lower.
It might be worth your while to use the time between now and then to take a good luck at just what else is available - and maybe at whether the electronics blew up 'cause of something you can prevent from happening again.
Did the machine share a circuit with a refrigerator? Or an air-conditioner?
Anything which either draws lots of power or makes for a "dirty" power circuit - a vacuum cleaner which doesn't use a filter condenser for instance, or a flourescent light fixture is is fixin' to blow...
Power line surges?
Stuff like that.
Was a tip from my friend Nanc - she has lots of special purpose machines running, and some are touchy.
Good luck and stay in touch with us - it is an interesting skill and craft you and your wife have.