Ricoma SWD Series User manual

SWD SERIES
QUICK START GUIDE
RICOMA INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
3450 NW 114th Ave., Miami, FL 33178
Telephone: [phone] | Toll Free: 1-888-292-6282
Fax: [phone] | Email: [email protected]
www.ricoma.us
Copyright 2019 © Ricoma
All rights reserved

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EMBROIDERING WITH THE EXTENDED TABLE
How to install the extended table .................................................................................................................21
Hooping and attaching the sash frame........................................................................................................22
How to hoop the sash frame.........................................................................................................................22
Attaching the sash frame..............................................................................................................................23
HOOPING
Centering a left-chest logo ............................................................................................................................23
Hooping recommendations ..........................................................................................................................24
Hooping at garments...................................................................................................................................25
Hooping the front or sides of a cap ..............................................................................................................25
Hooping the back of a cap using a round hoop ...........................................................................................26
CONTROL PANEL OVERVIEW
Full embroidery process from start to nish................................................................................................28
How to change your embroidery status .......................................................................................................29
Design menu ..................................................................................................................................................29
How to import and select a design ..............................................................................................................29
How to export a design..................................................................................................................................30
How to delete a design from your machine’s memory ............................................................................... 30
Onboard Lettering ..........................................................................................................................................31
Hoop Selection...............................................................................................................................................31
Design Settings Menu ...................................................................................................................................32
Color Sequence Settings...............................................................................................................................35
Design Tracing ...............................................................................................................................................37
Embroidery Speed..........................................................................................................................................38
Directional Arrows .........................................................................................................................................38
Frame Shift Direction/Speed Increments.....................................................................................................38
Stitch Mode/Emb Mode ................................................................................................................................39
Floating Menu ................................................................................................................................................39
Manual Color Change/Needle Display..........................................................................................................40
Return to Stop Point ......................................................................................................................................40
Trimming ........................................................................................................................................................40
GETTING STARTED: MACHINE OVERVIEW
Machine Contents............................................................................................................................................ 6
Machine Components .....................................................................................................................................8
Machine Setup ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Assembling the Stand ....................................................................................................................................9
Adjusting the position of the panel...............................................................................................................10
Raising the thread rack..................................................................................................................................11
Turning on the machine – power cord connection......................................................................................11
THREADING
How to replace a spool..................................................................................................................................11
Threading the needle .....................................................................................................................................12
Threading the machine from start to nish..................................................................................................12
INSTALLING THE NEEDLE
Selecting a needle..........................................................................................................................................15
How to install the needle...............................................................................................................................16
INSTALLING THE BOBBIN
The anatomy of the bobbin case ..................................................................................................................16
Inserting the bobbin.......................................................................................................................................17
HOOPS AND BRACKETS
Cap rings and cap attachments....................................................................................................................18
How to remove the cap driver .......................................................................................................................18
Installing the cap driver.................................................................................................................................19
Flat hoops and brackets................................................................................................................................19
How to attach the at frame bracket............................................................................................................20
How to remove the at frame bracket..........................................................................................................20
How to insert the hoop into the machine..................................................................................................... 20
How to remove the hoop from the machine.................................................................................................21

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAINTENANCE
........................................................................................................................................................................41
COMMON ERRORS
Resolving a thread break...............................................................................................................................43
Replacing a needle.........................................................................................................................................44
Bobbin running out ........................................................................................................................................44
Emergency stop error ....................................................................................................................................45
No needle error...............................................................................................................................................45
Main axis not at 100 ......................................................................................................................................45
Hook timing....................................................................................................................................................46
TENSION
Testing Tension..............................................................................................................................................47
Adjusting the top thread tension: Spring lever.............................................................................................48
Adjusting the top thread tension: Tension knobs ........................................................................................49
Adjusting the bobbin tension........................................................................................................................49
THREAD BREAKS
Reasons why thread breaks occur................................................................................................................51
Thread break prevention................................................................................................................................51
Thread break troubleshooting.......................................................................................................................52
NEEDLES
Anatomy of the needle ..................................................................................................................................53
Needle Lifetime ..............................................................................................................................................53
Needle Break Causes.....................................................................................................................................54
Blade sizes .....................................................................................................................................................54
Needle nishes...............................................................................................................................................55
Types of needlepoints ...................................................................................................................................56
The relationship between needles and threads ...........................................................................................57
THREAD
Thread consumption......................................................................................................................................57
The bobbin .....................................................................................................................................................58
Types of bobbin sides....................................................................................................................................58
Bobbin ber choices ......................................................................................................................................59
Top thread ber choices................................................................................................................................60
STABILIZER
Stabilizer colors .............................................................................................................................................62
Stabilizer weights ..........................................................................................................................................63
Common stabilizer weights...........................................................................................................................63
Types of Stabilizer .........................................................................................................................................63
Cut-away.........................................................................................................................................................63
Tear-away .......................................................................................................................................................64
Specialty backing...........................................................................................................................................64
Topping...........................................................................................................................................................64
Foam...............................................................................................................................................................64
Poly mesh backing.........................................................................................................................................64
Fusible backing..............................................................................................................................................65
EMBROIDERY TECHNIQUES
Specialty hoops .............................................................................................................................................65
Cap embroidery..............................................................................................................................................66
Operating speeds for caps and ats ............................................................................................................67
Hooping placement recommendations........................................................................................................ 68
Backing and needle recommendations........................................................................................................69

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Package Contents
Toolbox Contents
11 hoops 1 sash frame
1 cap driver 2 cap rings 1 cap station 1 set of bracket arms
Power cord Ethernet cable Toolbox and
welcome kit
GETTING STARTED: MACHINE OVERVIEW
Machine Contents
Small round mouth
bottle
Phillips screwdriver
Nipper pliers
Three double end
wrenches
Set of nine
hexagonal wrenches
Pair of thread clippers
Flat screwdriver
One pack of needles
Cleaning brushBobbin caseUSB driveSewing machine oil
Spare parts including but not limited to screws, springs,
reciprocators, needle bar guides, pickers and bobbin
Amann starter kit

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Machine Head Indicator Light
The machine head indicator light is located on the top right of the
machine head. See Figure 5.
During working status, the machine head indicator light is green.
If you encounter a thread break while embroidering, the indicator
light will ash red.
Step 1: Attach the connecting plates
• Unpack and unwrap the stand columns, Ricoma connecting plates
and tools. Remove all protective covering and plastic wrap and
discard.
• Place the stand columns upside down.
• Attach the Ricoma connecting plates to the stand columns upside
down using the hex head screws tted with a lock-washer and
washer. Secure with the Allen wrench. See Figure 6.
Step 2: Attach the casters
• Next, remove the protective cover on the caster’s screw, and fasten
the caster to its corresponding slot, which can be found on the at
column that connects the stand legs to each other.
• After rotating the caster clockwise, secure the hex nut using the
provided open-end wrench. See Figure 7.
• Repeat these steps for the remaining three casters.
ASSEMBLING THE STAND
Machine Set Up
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Step 3: Attach the level pegs
Next, take all four level pegs on your machine stand and rotate
them counterclockwise by hand until they reach the oor. Once
they reach the oor, continue to rotate using the open-end wrench
to secure them tight. See Figure 8.
Once all four pegs are tight, the wheels will lift, and the machine
stand will no longer be able to slide with the wheels.
Figure 8
Machine Stand
Your embroidery machine includes a heavy duty steel stand
designed to support your machine during the embroidery process.
Assemble the stand if you plan on using it to support your machine.
If you don’t plan on using the stand, make sure your machine is
placed on a sturdy surface with enough space to embroider.
Control Panel
Your embroidery machine contains a touch-screen panel to
facilitate operation. Before operating your machine, make sure
to adjust the position of the control panel to your liking. You may
learn more about the panel features in the Control Panel Overview
section.
Thread Rack
Your embroidery machine contains a thread rack that will hold your
thread and feed the thread through the machine’s thread path.
Before threading your machine, be sure to raise the thread rack.
Emergency Stop Button
In case of an emergency, press the emergency stop button located
on the bottom left side of the panel. See Figure 4.
To restart the machine, rotate the knob clockwise following the
directional arrows. The knob will then release, allowing you to
press start.
Machine Components
Figure 3
Figure 2
Figure 1
Figure 4

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How to Adjust The Panel From Side to Side
1. To move the panel from side to side, loosen the screw located on
top of the panel arm. See Figure 11.
2. Then, adjust the control panel until it’s facing the desired position,
and tighten the screw.
How To Adjust the Panel Up or Down
1. To move the panel up or down, loosen the screw located on the
side of the panel arm. See Figure 12.
2. Adjust the control panel until it’s facing the desired position, and
tighten the screw.
1. Rotate the knobs on the sides of the thread rack support
counterclockwise to loosen them. See Figure 13.
2. Lift the thread rack as far up as possible, making sure both
sides of the rack remain even as it rises.
3. Rotate each knob clockwise to secure the rack into place.
Step 4: Attach the machine to the stand
Once all of the pegs and wheels are in place, turn the stand right-side-up. See Figure 9.
Last, place the machine on the stand, aligning the machine’s feet to the silver mounts on the stand.
We recommend 2-3 people to complete this step. See Figure 10.
Your touch-screen panel can be adjusted up and down or from side to side. To comfortably operate
your machinery, you may adjust the panel using the Phillips screwdriver included in your tool box.
Before adjusting the position of the panel, remove the plastic wrap that protects the panel.
Your machine comes pre-threaded, which means that you will not have to thread your machine from
scratch when you rst receive your machine. The directions below explain how to replace a spool.
Follow steps 3&4 to add a new spool when your machine arrives pre-threaded.
The power socket is located on the back left of the machine’s body.
Connect your power cord into the socket displayed in Figure 14.
Then, plug the power cord into a power outlet.
We highly recommend using a power supply (surge protector)
rather than connecting the cord directly into the wall. The power
switch can be found above the power socket.
1. Clip the thread from the thread spool you wish to replace. Make
sure you clip the thread right above the spool and not inside the
thread path.
2. Remove the old spool from the spool pin, and place a new spool
in its place.
Figure 9
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 10
ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF THE CONTROL PANEL
RAISING THE THREAD RACK
TURNING ON THE MACHINE: POWER CORD CONNECTION
HOW TO REPLACE A SPOOL
Tip: If possible, raise the thread rack on both sides while adjusting it. This will ensure it is positioned evenly.
THREADING
Adding/Replacing a Spool

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3. Take the loose end of the thread from the old spool and tie it to
the loose end of the new spool with a tight knot. See Figure 15.
4. Next, grab the thread from above the presser foot and pull it
carefully through until you no longer see any of the old thread.
While you pull the thread, you’ll see the new thread and the knot
you created traveling through the thread path. Continue to pull
until the knot you created passes the last point in the thread path
before the needle. See Figure 16.
5. Last, clip the thread right above the knot. Then, pass the thread through the eye of the needle and
through the presser foot. See the Threading the Needle section for more information.
Figure 16
Your machine comes with needles already installed. To learn how to replace a needle, see the Installing
the Needle section.
Before threading your machine, make sure you have raised the thread rack and properly inserted the
spools and thread tubes.
See Raising the Thread Rack in Machine Setup.
Threading the Needle
Threading the Machine from Start to Finish
1. Pass the thread through the eye of the needle from the front to
the back. Then, pass the thread through the presser foot.
2. Pull the thread up, and place the thread on the spring until you’re
ready to embroider. We recommend leaving one to two inches of
thread hanging and trimming the excess. See Figure 17.
Attach one end of the tube to the slot just below the top thread
tension knob. Attach the other end of the tube to the slot on the
machine’s head. Guide yourself by counting the slots on the top
and bottom to make sure you are attaching the tubes to their
corresponding slots. The rst slot on the top connects to the rst
slot on the bottom and so forth. See Figure 18.
1. Remove the wrapper on the thread spool. Your welcome kit contains one box of embroidery thread
to get you started. The machine can carry 15 spools of thread.
Before threading, you should be familiar with the thread path. The
back row of thread will be threaded through the back metal rack.
The middle row of threads will be threaded through the middle
metal rack. The front row of threads will be threaded through the
front metal rack. See Figure 19.
1. Thread each spool through the eyelets on the upper thread rack until they reach the top tension knobs.
See Figure 20.
2. Release the tail of the thread by unsnapping the base of the cone,
and unwinding the thread until it is completely out of the base.
3. Place each thread spool onto the spool pins.
Figure 17
Figure 18
Figure 19
HOW TO THREAD THE NEEDLE
RAISE THE THREAD RACK
ATTACH THE THREAD TUBES
PLACE THE SPOOLS
BEGIN THREADING
Note: Your machine package includes 1,000 meter thread spools. You
may remove the plastic spool holders when using these smaller thread
spools, as they do not require them. You may place the spool holders
back on when switching to full-size 5,000 meter thread spools. These
smaller thread spools do not require the plastic spool holder.
Smaller
Spool
Larger
Spool
Tip: To avoid using the wrong color, avoid placing similar colors like black and navy blue close to
each other.

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2. Next, pass the thread through the small eyelet located behind the
rst tension knob. Position the thread to the right side of the top
tension knob in between the tension disks, making sure the thread is
inside the tab at the 3 o’clock position. To ensure you’ve completed
this step correctly, make sure the metal plates on the tension knob
are touching after you’ve positioned the thread. See Figure 21.
3. Unhook the thread tube from each side. Next, using the included
threading tool from your toolkit, hook the thread to the end of the tool
and feed the thread through the plastic tube. Once the thread has
been fed through the tube, unhook the thread. See Figure 22.
4. Reattach the thread tube to each end.
5. Pass the thread through the clip located just above the top tension
knobs. Be sure to gently pull the clip up with your nger, rather than
just sliding the thread under the clip to avoid damaging the thread or
threading the machine incorrectly. See point A in Figure 23.
6. Next, pull the front disk of the tension knob toward you, and slip the
thread to the right side of the knob. Use the numbers as guides to
know which path to follow for each needle. The photo displays the
thread path for needle 14. Notice the tension knob is aligned just
above the needle number. See point B in Figure 23.
7. Locate the post right above the corresponding thread break wheel
(these are the white wheels on the machine’s head.) Pass the thread
through the left side of the post. See point C in Figure 23. Then, guide
the thread to the right and wrap it around the thread break wheel. See
the path from point C to E in Figure 23. Make sure you make one full
clockwise rotation until the thread exits through the left side of the
bottom post. See point E in Figure 23.
8. Place the thread under the bottom clip by pulling the clip up. Slide the
thread underneath. See point F in Figure 23.
9. Next, thread the check spring and the lever arm. Begin by lifting the
spring lever to place the check spring into threading position. Now,
coming down from the right side, pass the thread over the outer right
side of the rollers and then in through the opening in the center. See
point G in Figure 24.
10. Next, pass the thread through the spring from the right to the left.
See point H in Figure 24.
11. Then, take the thread and pull it through the opening in the center
and out over the outer left side of the rollers. Continue pulling the
thread up until you reach the lever arm. See point I in Figure 24.
12. Now, pass the thread through the opening of the lever arm from the
right to the left. See point I in Figure 24.
13. Then pass the thread back down until it runs through the ceramic
eyelet. See point J in Figure 24. Continue running the thread down
the same path until it passes through the following ceramic eyelet.
See point K in Figure 25.
14. Pass the thread through the eye of the needle from the front to the
back, and then in through the presser foot. See point L in Figure 25.
15. Last, take a step back and look at the front of the machine to make
sure that all needles appear to be threaded correctly. If they are
uniform, you are ready to stitch a test pattern.
Figure 20
Figure 21
Figure 22
Figure 23
Figure 24
Figure 25
Tip: If you run out of thread completely on a needle, re-thread, matching the thread path to a correctly
threaded neighboring needle.
A
K
L
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
INSTALLING THE NEEDLES
Choosing the right needle is important to ensure quality stitches. Embroidering with a needle that is
too small or too big for the thread and/or fabric may result in thread breaks or skipped stitches.
DBxK5 is an established needle system for machine embroidery. A DBxK5 size 75/11 sharp point
needle will work for most embroidery projects. This style needle has a medium point with a larger eye,
which allows the thread to ow smoothly and helps reduce thread breaks.
In some instances, you may need to choose a different size needle depending on your embroidery
project. Go to the Needles section to learn more about selecting the proper needle for your embroidery.
Selecting a Needle

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When changing a needle, make sure the scarf of the needle is facing away from you and toward the machine.
When inserting the needle, make sure it is completely straight and not slanted. If the needle is not positioned
correctly, the machine will not work properly, and the needle will break. Refer to needle diagram on page 53.
Before threading and inserting the bobbin into the machine,
see Figure 29 to view the parts of the bobbin case that will be
referenced.
Installing a Needle
The Anatomy of the Bobbin Case
Threading and Inserting the Bobbin
HOW TO INSTALL THE NEEDLE
1. Loosen the set screw above the needle with a straight slot
screwdriver. Loosen only enough to be able to remove the needle.
See Figure 26.
2. Discard the old needle in a sharp-safe container.
3. Needles have a long groove on the front and a short half-moon-shaped
section called the scarf on the rear. With the long groove facing
the front of the machine, insert the new needle by placing the point
through the presser foot, and then insert the shank into the needle bar
all the way. See Figure 27. Refer to needle diagram on page 53.
4. Verify that the long groove of the needle is still facing forward.
Tighten the needle screw while holding the needle rmly to keep
it from slipping down. See Figure 28.
1. If you haven’t done so yet, remove the bobbin case from the
machine’s bobbin housing unit. Lift the latch and pull the bobbin
case toward you to remove it. See Figure 30.
2. If there is already a bobbin in the bobbin case, pull out the bobbin
and discard.
3. Insert a new bobbin into the bobbin case, making sure the thread
is running clockwise. See Figure 31.
5. Pass the bobbin thread through the bobbin case slit.
See Figure 32.
6. Pull the bobbin thread under the tension arm, making sure the
thread exits at the notch on the other end. See Figure 33.
7. Wrap the thread around the small pigtail on the bobbin case.
See Figure 34.
8. Grab the bobbin case while lifting the latch, and insert it into the
machine. Make sure the thread tail is no longer than 3 inches.
A longer tail can wrap around the shaft and create a buildup of
thread.
Figure 26
Figure 27
Figure 28
Figure 29
Tip: To help you place the needle correctly, you may insert a wooden
toothpick into the eye of the needle. Never place a metal object in
the needle’s eye, as it could scratch the eye of the needle, causing
thread breaks.
Tip: To ensure the bobbin is placed correctly, turn the bobbin case to
the opposite side, and pull on the thread. The bobbin thread should
still be running clockwise in this direction, and you should see the
letters rotating clockwise.
INSTALLING THE BOBBIN
Figure 30
Figure 31
Figure 32
Figure 33
Figure 34

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HOOPS AND BRACKETS
Your machine can embroider ats and caps. Flats refer to garments like shirts and jackets that you
can lay at and hoop using your at brackets. You will embroider caps using the cap attachment. The
cap attachment is curved to match the curvature of a cap.
When embroidering caps, you will need to use the included cap
driver, cap station and cap ring.
The cap driver is the accessory that is mounted on the machine.
See Figure 35. This tool holds the cap and cap ring during the
sewing process.
The cap station is the tool that holds the cap ring (the cap hoop)
while hooping. The cap station should be mounted on your machine
stand or on a sturdy table. See Figure 36. Once you have mounted
the cap station, you can attach the cap ring to the cap station to
begin hooping.
The cap ring is the hoop for your caps. See Figure 37. This ring can
be adjusted according to the thickness of the cap using the screw
on the right-hand side.
1. Using the Phillips screwdriver included in your toolkit, loosen the
screws that connect the cap driver to the pantograph.
See Figure 38.
2. Pull the cap driver toward you using both hands.
1. Select the cap hoop from the list of preset hoops on the control
panel. Refer to the Control Panel Overview section for more
information. Once you have selected the preset cap hoop, the
pantograph will move forward.
2. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you have removed the
at support brackets. To remove the brackets, loosen the Allen
screws that attach the brackets to the pantograph rail.
3. Insert the cap driver onto the machine, making sure the sewing
arm goes through the opening in the back of the cap driver.
4. The cap driver is equipped with four small wheels that slide onto
the rail underneath the sewing arm of the machine. Position the
cap driver in line with the railing, making sure all the wheels are
aligned. See Figure 39.
5. Push the cap driver toward the machine until it reaches the
pantograph. You will attach the cap driver to slot 6 on each end
of the pantograph. See Figure 40.
6. Tighten the Phillip screws to secure the cap driver to the
pantograph. See Figure 41.
Your Ricoma SWD Series embroidery machine includes a set of 11 hoops. There are six different hoop
sizes, ranging from A to F. Hoop A is the smallest hoop and hoop F is the largest hoop.
When selecting your hoop, use the smallest hoop that your design will t into without hitting the hoop.
When you upload your design, you will be able to use the preset hoop feature on the machine to make
sure your design is within the hoop.
Cap Attachments
Installing the Cap Driver
Flat Hoops and Brackets
Removing the Cap Driver
Figure 35
Figure 36
Figure 37
Figure 39
Figure 40
Figure 41
Figure 38 Tip: It’s not necessary to completely remove the screws. It should be
able to come off easily if you have loosened both screws.
Tip: Selecting the smallest hoop your design ts into creates the best hooping tension for your fabric,
eliminating thread breaks, puckering and other machine embroidery issues.
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