Machine advice

[TCT]

So I have what I think is a rare opportunity. I may have the opportunity to pick up a 1995 Barudan. 15 head 9 needle machine. This thing is like 25' long, so it is a commitment. It will double our current in house capacity. I would like to come right out and say I am totally ignorant when it comes to the embroidery side of things. Let me repeat, I am totally ignorant when it comes to the embroidery side of things.
My question is a large machine like this going to be more of a pain than it is worth? One of our other machines is the same vintage as this one, so I am not as worried about that aspect.
Either way the machine runs fine. The price I would be able to get it for, the machine could pay for it self with 1 mediacore job. With that said to me, it kind of seems like a no-brainier.

Anyone have terror stories or advice against this big Bertha?

[mk162]

if the price is right, buy it and have a tech go through the whole thing.  worst case you can part it out if it's not worth fixing or is a hunk of junk.

You can always turn off trouble heads too.

[shellyky]

we were eyeing a 15 head SWF for a while, then the more we thought about it and asked around, if you're trying production on all 15 heads, if there is a thread break , you have to remember everything else stops...now that is 15 potential heads to get a 'stop' on...so in theory if it's not in tip top sewing shape and has some issues, you might be running more like 1/2 speed with the increased potential for stops. So in my opinion, if that price would justify buying it at "half the heads" then i'd consider it...you can always turn the bad ones off. 

[ebscreen]

Barudan is known for making quality machines. Do check on whether is can sew caps or not, if that matters to you.
They switched from a head type that could only sew flats, and it wasn't that long back.

[inkman996]

Shelly makes a good point but on a 15 head it is quicker to simply turn the broke thread head off and let the run continue, when the machines changes color repair the broken thread, and let it catch up on the next run. A machine that size is going to need someone on constant stand by, two is even better, with two the efficiency is huge. In our case we almost always have two on the 12 head at a time and they keep the machine running nearly non stop with plenty of time during the runs to trim and fold. If there is a break my operator turns that head off and one of the two rethreads while the other is loading the next run, its seamless.

[TCT]

It can do hats from my understanding, it just needs the attachment. We run hats on our new 6 head and the 2 head, but it would be nice to be able to do the bigger runs on it.
If the deal goes through, I could turn off 13 heads and it will still be a steal...

[ebscreen]

In that case congratulations!   Now how to move it.....

[bj]

Congrats and go for it!
I worked for a company that had 4 12 heads and 2 18 heads that ran 24 hours a day three shifts.  It ran without issue because they were well maintained.
In my opinion it is like taking care of a car....make sure you keep it oiled up on a schedule, keep it clean-the small dust and broken threads can really mess up a good machine if not removed, and as soon as there is an issue maintain it.   Learn your machine inside and out as far as oiling and fixing it.  If you can keep up the maintenance it will pay for itself and then some
As far as how many people run the machine...it all depends on your operator and their experience.  I saw people who could run two 12 heads on their own and fix a thread break in a matter of seconds.  Take care of your good operators so they stay and paying them a bit more is better than paying for two people.   
We had three stations...two for hooping, three for the 6 machines and four to six for cleaning up the loose threads and cleaning up with permanent markers for the finishing touches.

[Parker 1]

We ran a machine like this back in the 90s.  We are capable of running 2-3 the production of 1 newer 8 head than we did on the 15.

Also are the heads (needles) flat or in a straight line, like every newer machine on the market today (sometimes refered to as "Tagima Style")?