The Differences Between Domestic and Industrial Sewing Machines
Posted by Joseph Park on
Knowing the right kind of sewing machine to purchase for your sewing needs is as important as knowing which equipment or tools to use for any other type of craft. Painters need the right kinds of brushes to make specific types of brushstrokes, while instrumentalists in a musical ensemble each have their own specialties when it comes to playing instruments. Similarly, many sewing machines are made for particular types of sewing tasks. They can, however, be classified into two basic variants, namely domestic and industrial sewing machines.
Domestic sewing machines
As the name suggests, domestic sewing machines are those typically used in homes by sewing enthusiasts. Because these people usually engage in a variety of projects — from making dresses and shirts to sewing curtains and futon covers —domestic sewing machines are manufactured with versatility in mind. The array of sewing tasks they can accommodate can differ from brand to brand, but their main selling point is the flexibility they offer.
These machines can perform a variety of stitch types, although the stitches don’t normally come out as refined as the ones made by industrial sewing machines. Moreover, in terms of adaptability when it comes to accommodating fabric types, domestic sewing machines are usually not heavy-duty enough to work on heavier or thicker types of fabrics or workpieces.
In terms of operation, domestic sewing machines are designed to be used for just a few hours per day, thanks to the fact that they run on significantly smaller motors compared to industrial sewing machines.
Industrial sewing machines
Perhaps, the biggest difference between domestic sewing machines and industrial sewing machines is the variety in which the latter group comes. There are many types of industrial sewing machines, all of which are designed to be integral components in a factory environment.
Each of these performs a specific type of stitch, whether it’s lockstitch, chainstitch, overlock stitch, blindstitch, or zigzag stitch. There are also special types of machines that do specific tasks, like bar tacking machines for reinforcing the fabric, buttonhole machines for creating buttonholes, and buttonsew machines for attaching buttons. Moreover, factories handling heavy materials like leather and quilts are also likely to house hard-wearing postbed machines, which are designed for more demanding sewing activities.
As mentioned, industrial sewing machines have more robust external motors and are therefore capable of being used as manufacturing workhorses. They can run for an entire working day, can stand recurrent high-speed usage, and can remain maintenance-free for long periods of time. Some industrial sewing machines are even programmable, offering users greater flexibility because of the hundreds of stitches and patterns they can keep in their memory. These are essentially sewing machines for the computer age.
At the outset, it may seem like purchasing industrial sewing machines make for a really expensive investment. However, if you run a sewing business, acquiring the right equipment is necessary if you want to get the maximum value from the resources you shell out. A complete set of industrial sewing machines will help you complete your manufacturing and inventorial requirements in the quickest manner possible.