handi quilter HQ Sweet Sixteen User manual

HANDI QUILTER 16-INCH SIT-DOWN LONGARM
Designed by a Quilter, for Quilters.
®
USER MANUAL
QM30277 • VERSION 3.0

Congratulations on your purchase of the
HQ Sweet Sixteen from Handi Quilter!
You haven’t just purchased a quilting machine, you’ve joined the
Handi Quilter family and we welcome you.
Handi Quilter is committed to innovation, reliability, customer service and
education. Our machines are “Designed by a Quilter, for Quilters®” and we are
committed to your quilting success.
With that in mind, we invite you to bookmark our website: www.HandiQuilter.
com and invite you to visit to learn more about the art of quilting. We’ve posted
tips, tricks and tutorials on subjects as diverse as “Oiling Your Machine” to
“Loading a Quilt” to “Making Perfect Feathers”. We’ve got videos to watch, pdf
files to print out for reference and forums for asking questions.
Remember, if you ever have questions, your local Rep can help you. If the Rep is
not available, contact Handi Quilter directly at [email protected] or
by calling us at 1-877-697-8458, Monday-Friday, 8-5 MST.

HandiQuilter.com Page 1

Page 2 HQ Sweet Sixteen User Manual

NOTE: A Handi Quilter “Geng Started”
set of DVDs is included with your
HQ Sweet Sixteen machine. Review the
DVDs and these instrucons to beer
understand how to set up and use the
HQ Sweet Sixteen.
Table of Contents
4 Safety Secon
Quick Facts
5 Components (Front Side View)
6 Components (Back Side View)
7 Components (Rear and Front Views)
8 Seng Up the Table
Placing Machine in Table
Installing Power Cord
Installing Foot Pedal
9 Installing Thread Mast
Installing Color Touch-Screen
10 Inserng Needle
Needle/Thread Selecon Guide
Changing the Hopping Foot
11 Threading the Machine
13 Bobbin Case and Bobbin Thread Tension Adjustments
14 Easy-Set Tension™ Adjustment
15 Maintenance
16 Using the Touch-Screen Display
25 Geng Started Quilng
26 Correcng Common Issues
29 Oponal Accessories
31 Warranty
33 Warranty Registraon Form
35 Training Checklist

Page 4 HQ Sweet Sixteen User Manual
Safety Secon Quick Facts
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operaon is subject to the following two condions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operaon.
Please note: Do not operate your HQ Sweet Sixteen
quilng machine unl you have completely read the
informaon contained in this manual. Please keep
all packaging and order informaon for warranty
purposes.
1. The HQ Sweet Sixteen is very heavy. Never aempt
to li it alone – always use two people when liing.
2. Always unplug the HQ Sweet Sixteen from
the electrical outlet when performing any
maintenance, changing the needle, removing
thread locks, or when le unaended.
3. Keep ngers away from all moving parts. Use
cauon around the needle or sharp external
components.
4. Change the needle oen. Do not use bent or dull
needles. “Every quilt deserves a new needle”.
5. Switch the power o when making any adjustments
in the needle or bobbin area, such as threading the
needle, installing the bobbin case, or when oiling or
cleaning.
6. Never drop or insert foreign objects into any
opening.
7. The HQ Sweet Sixteen should only be used indoors
away from moisture.
8. The HQ Sweet Sixteen should not be stored or used
in extreme temperatures.
9. Use the HQ Sweet Sixteen only for its intended use
as described in this manual.
10. Use only aachments recommended by the
manufacturer.
11. To disconnect from the wall outlet, push the
switch to the o posion, then remove the plug
from outlet pulling from the plug, not the cord.
Never operate the HQ Sweet Sixteen if the
cord is damaged or not working correctly. If a
mechanical or electrical problem is encountered,
return the HQ Sweet Sixteen to the nearest
authorized service center or the manufacturer
for examinaon, repair, electrical or mechanical
adjustment.
The HQ Sweet Sixteen ulizes high-tech electronics
and an innovave touch-pad user interface to oer
greater funconality and ease of operaon to home
quilters than ever before conceived in the quilng
industry. The HQ Sweet Sixteen quilng machine is
a high quality machine that incorporates very robust
design features and is very easy to service.
Disclaimer
Handi Quilter and its Representaves are in no way legally
responsible or liable for damage to the HQ Sweet Sixteen
when used improperly or not in accordance with the
guidelines stated in this manual or when used on machine-
quilng tables not recommended by Handi Quilter.
Throat Dimensions:
Quilng Speed:
Needle System:
Needle Sizes:
Hook System:
Bobbin Type:
Bobbin Case:
Motor Type:
Needle Posioning:
Electrical Power:
LED Power Consumpon:
Hopping Foot Stroke/Li:
Needle Bar Stroke:
Take-Up Stroke:
Lubricaon, main
components:
Lubricaon of hook:
8.25” X 16”
(245 mm X 610 mm)
Maximum: 1500 SPM
134 (135 X 7)
12/80 - 20/125
Rotary, Horizontal axis,
M-class bobbin
Aluminum, Class M
Type MF
Brushless DC
Up and down, eo stch
90 – 264 VAC, 47-63Hz,
300W peak
2.25W
5 mm
35.3 mm
73 mm
Kluber Lube, permanent
Velocite 10, Texaco 22

HandiQuilter.com Page 5
1. Thread Mast
2. Thread Guide A
3. Three-Hole Thread Guide B
4. Thread Guide C
5. Top Thread Tension Assembly
6. Srrup Thread Guide E
7. Take-Up Lever
8. Thread Guide F
9. Front Casing/Frame
10. Hand Wheel
HQ Sweet Sixteen Components
Front Side View
Figure 1
3
2
1
7
6
4
5
8
10
22
17
18
20
19
15
14
13
12
11
DETAIL 'A'
Components Not Idened
Because the HQ Sweet Sixteen is upgradeable to a stand-up
frame quilng system, there are components found on the
machine that are not used for sit-down machine quilng
(such as threaded holes for handlebars).
9
5
4
8
6
3
7
1
2
10

Page 6 HQ Sweet Sixteen User Manual
18. Front Threaded Display Mounng Holes
19. Front Base
20. Back Casing/Frame
21. Rear Base
22. Color Touch-Screen Display Connector
23. Threaded Horizontal Spool Pin Mounng Hole
11. Needle Bar
12. Needle Bar Thread Guide
13. Needle
14. Ruler Foot
15. Needle Plate
16. Handi Feet mount
17. Presser Bar
Back Side View
Figure 2
3
2
1
7
6
4
5
8
10
23
18
19
21
20
15 14
13
12
11
DETAIL 'A'
17
16
22

HandiQuilter.com Page 7
Detail
26
24
23
28
32
31
29
30
27
23. On/O Switch
24. Power Cord Connector
25. Accessory Power Outlet
26. Foot Pedal Connector
Rear and Front Views
Rear Front
Figure 3
27. Spool Pin 1
28. Electronic Control Pod (C-Pod)
29. Bobbin Assembly
30. LED Light Ring
31. Power Pod (P-Pod)
32. Spool Pin 2
25
24
23
31
26
32
28
27
30
29

Page 8 HQ Sweet Sixteen User Manual
Seng Up the Table (and Taking it
Down for Storage)
Check that the On/O switch (page 7, Figure 3, #23) is
turned o (the 0 seng). Plug the power cord into the
top power outlet on the back of the machine (Figure 4).
Do not plug the power cord into a power source at this
me.
The lower power connector is available for powering
future aachments as they are developed by Handi
Quilter. (Not yet available.)
Installing the Power Cord
1. Plug in the foot pedal cord end into the foot pedal
connector (see page 7, Figure 3, #26).
2. Place the foot pedal under the table where operator
can reach it from the front of the machine.
The HQ Sweet Sixteen table has been designed to
accommodate the HQ Sweet Sixteen machine. It has
folding legs that are height-adjustable and is heavy
enough to provide stabilizaon for quilng at high speeds.
1. Open the box and gently remove the table, taking care
not to drop the table on the oor. The table weighs
nearly 50 pounds, so it is recommended that you ask
someone to help.
2. Unfold the legs, pulling on the horizontal braces unl
the legs snap into place. Set the table upright.
3. Make the table taller by pinching the two height-
adjustment tabs on each set of legs and liing on table,
while holding legs down with foot. Make the table
shorter by pinching the same tabs and pushing down on
the table.
4. To store the table, remove machine and return legs to
their lowest posion.
5. The legs are aached to the table top with brackets
of two dierent sizes. One is longer than the other.
Idenfy the long and the short leg brackets.
6. Fold in the short bracket leg rst. Push on the horizontal
braces to loosen the legs and push them back toward
the table top.
7. Repeat with the long bracket leg.
Installing the Foot Pedal
Placing the Machine in the Table
1. We recommend having someone help li and place the
machine.
2. Li the machine by pung one arm through the throat
space.
3. Guide the machine from the back of the table into the
slot. Machine is posioned correctly when the back of
the machine is ush with the back of the table.
Figure 4