Sewing Machine Magic

[mysciencenow]

next up is the lapidary wheel

[DougPlucker]

I still don't get it. Your video implies that the bobbin is somehow magically suspended in air, thus allowing the loop of thread to go completely around it, but in reality, the bobbin is on a shaft attached to the machine. how does the thread get around the shaft?

[rjnerd]

The bobbin doesn't sit on a shaft in any machine I have disassembled. They have always sat in the cup that has the thread catching hook on it.  The cup spins, the bobbin floats inside it.

[DougPlucker]

Singer 15 and HA-1 clones: the bobbin is on a shaft inside a cup that fits into the shuttle which is latched down. Clearly the thread can't go completely around such a contrivance. But I will admit that is does not go around, but oscillates back and forth.

[Chopper894]

@DougPlucker The bobbin sits in a bobbin case and the loop passes over bobbin case. The bobbin case sits in a carrier with enough clearence around it to allow the thread to pass. All parts are highly polished to prevent injory to the thread,

[sewingmachineheaven]

Wow that was a lot of work even for three men. I'll have to make a video and try to make it shorter. >;o) great vid!

[RickE1poker]

Basically right, though it would have worked better if th bobbin guy also was a tension guy and the needle/tension guy also had his foot on the fabric to hold the fabric down as the feeddog guy moved the fabric.

Great job though.

[DNAPROTEINN]

thank you, great presentation. Finally I understand how this works. Was it Sinfer who came this ingenious idea. What preceded it?

[starwarsgeek14]

imagine if you had to sew like that. three men. haha :)

[c2thew]

thanks. this video would definitely delight kids in middle school. good job guys

[fairygodmothercoach]

This was a great explanation! I embedded it into my Grandma's Sewing Cabinet blog.

[kimmarie801]

good job! thanks foe sharing!

[antijelly]

bunch of nerds... lol

i actually liked this!

yes, i did wonder how sewing machines worked. olol

[holycrap1110]

I have been wondering how it works for a while now, THANK YOU!

[TomaLevine]

That was tremendously useful, guys! I actually used it to research the mechanism of a sewing machine for a professional illustration project, and I understand the process I'm illustrating a lot better now. Thanks!

[clearskyblue]

Can you take my trousers up a few inches.

[rjnerd]

You do realize that the bobbin is a spool of CAT-5 ethernet cable...

[ugeenbenhemmer]

I have been sewing for 40 years but I have seen a sewing machine like that. That was fantastic and very entertaining. thanks !!!!

[coquetscache]

FANTASTIC idea, thanks lots!

[thejumpsuitman]

Great video, guys. Wish I had a braintrust of friends I could work with, but I'm a lone genius! LOL.

[Chopper894]

Thats fantastic,a super training video. Im in the industrial sewing machine business. Now if you can make a 301 lockstitch machine that works without a bobbin, you can write your own cheque and I will sign it. Deal?

[Saraswatiji]

Hey I have been sewing ALL my life and now I finally get what happens in there...very cool!

THanks!

[cameramaam]

Spectacular and fun!

[Oldpqlyr]

Too cool, guys! Like what once was so eloquently exhorted on a Monty Python flick, "You lucky, lucky b******s." What fun! Thanks.

[Oldpqlyr]

The intent was/is noble. Rehearsal and better camera work would definitely enhance the segments i.e. More thought needs to go into planning the shots for clarity for the audience AND fundamental photo techniques -like don't center-frame a speaker's face (what's with all the ceiling?)- and basic post production techniques -like deal with the "CAMERA CALIBRATION" and 'TRACKING" messages in the final release-. Have you done any others, NERDS? If not... make some! I'd love to see 'em.

[rjnerd]

This wasn't a general purpose video, it was an audition tape thrown together on very short notice. It served its purpose, it got us to the short list for auditions. As a result, we did 4 episodes of the show "Junkyard Wars" ("Scrapheap Challenge" outside the US.)

The unrehearsed component was part of the point, the real show isn't rehearsed either.

Since it happens to be amusing, and somewhat educational, I put it up here.

[fredgilman]

Junkyard wars was my favorite TV show growing up. You guys were the best! I finally understand how a sewing machine works! Thank you fellas!

[afftonpimp]

Sweet mullet Crash!!

[ladyflyingace]

I think "the bobbin" is hot. : )

you can come dumpster diving with me anytime.

[TheCoolMom]

That was really great. I'm glad you guys did this - it will be great for kids or anyone who doesn't understand just how a sewing machine works to see. Keep it up!

The Cool Mom

[Gerdette]

Thanks - now I finally understand the bobbin mechanism on my machine. Kids would benefit soooo much from being taught this way - brilliant!!!!!!

[scubagirl608]

Loved it!!

[12khmi]

This is just like Tim Hunkins demonstration on the Secret Life of Machines.

[rjnerd]

It is. But none of us had seen that episode when we made ours. Luckily nobody at the production company had seen it either. That secret life episode finally showed on US television about 2 years ago.

[rjnerd]

Then again, nobody at the production company had ever seen one of the televised MIT 2.070 competitions, or even the UK series "the great egg race", which was remarkably like their show, but on a smaller scale. (Cathy was inspired to create the show by the "fix the air filter" scene in the movie "Apollo 13")

[byhammerandhand]

My kinda guys! Just keep out of my shop.

[lblair2]

I've been sewing for a long time, and didn't understand how it worked. Thanks for the lesson. You're great!

[turquoisenet86]

yeah, its a simple concept, wouldve never thought

[ShadowGirl2]

Thanks! Love you guys...

[aquariusmoon]

I love you nerds!