Table of Contents
Watch the video: “Barudan Automat Basic Operations” by Barudan
If you’ve ever fumbled a USB stick or second-guessed a color change, this beginner-focused walkthrough is for you. The Barudan Automat keeps core tasks straightforward: load a design, confirm colors, trace the placement, and sew. Below, we translate the on-screen taps and icons into a crisp, repeatable routine you can trust on production days.
What you’ll learn
- How to prepare and input designs from a USB drive into the Barudan Automat
- The supported file types and folder naming conventions so your files actually show up
- How to edit color function codes using the F-list
- Why tracing (Square vs. Outline) matters and when to use each
- Where to press Start on single head vs. multi head machines
H2: Understanding Your Barudan Automat: A Beginner's Guide
Introduction to Automat Operations You’ll handle three essentials: design input, color function editing, and tracing for placement. The video demonstrates these operations step by step on the Barudan Automat’s touch interface.
Quick check
- A blue Drive icon means Standby.
- A yellow Drive icon means Drive (ready to sew).
Key Features of the Barudan Automat
- USB design input with support for FDR, DST, and PRJ files.
- Edit color function codes via the F-list so the machine performs the right color changes at the right time.
- Trace the design (Square or Outline) to verify safe placement before sewing.
From the comments Some users praise Barudan’s reliability, while others wish for a more modern interface. One commenter asked about wireless workflows; another community member noted that using the Ethernet port with a small Wi-Fi extender could create a mostly wireless setup. The video itself shows USB-based design input and doesn’t demonstrate Ethernet or Wi-Fi. If you’re outfitting hoops for your setup, consider your materials and garment mix—shops running heavier items often explore accessories like barudan hoops to streamline hooping.
H2: Step-by-Step Design Input
Saving Designs to Your USB Drive Prepare your design files on a PC. Save your embroidery designs to a USB flash drive before you approach the machine. After that, insert the USB into the Automat; the screen should acknowledge it.
Supported File Types and Folder Naming The Automat reads three file types: FDR, DST, and PRJ. If you keep designs at the root of the USB, they’ll appear directly in the file list. If you prefer folders, name them correctly so the machine sees them:
- FDR designs (including those with .U01–.U99) must be inside a folder named with a .FDR extension (e.g., 0000.FDR).
- DST designs must go into a folder named with a .TFD extension (e.g., 0000.TFD).
- PRJ designs should be in a folder named with a .PRJ extension (e.g., 0000.PRJ).
Pro tip If a design isn’t appearing, confirm the folder’s extension is exactly .FDR, .TFD, or .PRJ as required. Small typos can keep a job from showing up.
Watch out Saving a DST file inside a folder that isn’t named .TFD is a classic miss. Keep your folder conventions consistent across your shop so multiple operators can locate files without confusion.
Loading Designs onto the Automat On the machine, press the USB icon to open the Design Input screen. Files stored on the USB root appear in the Files list; you can also navigate the Folder list on the left. Select your design and press INPUT to load it into memory. The progress bar confirms loading, then you’ll return to the Main screen with the new design displayed.
From the comments One viewer asked for a Spanish translation of the tutorial. If your team includes Spanish-speaking operators, consider building a quick reference card with screenshots of the USB and INPUT screens, along with folder naming rules. For shops standardizing tooling, this is also a good moment to document hoop options—from tubular frames to magnetic solutions—so everyone knows which jobs use which fixtures, including when to reach for barudan magnetic hoops.
H2: Mastering Color Function Codes with the F-List
Why Edit Color Codes? Multicolor designs include color function codes to tell the machine when to stop and change threads. The video shows that when the stitch count reaches a programmed color function, the machine stops and switches to the assigned color. Editing these codes ensures your thread sequence exactly matches the design logic you want.
Navigating the F-List Interface From the Main screen, press EDIT, then F-LIST to open the Function list for the current design. The list appears on the left, while available function codes show on the right. When you select a function in the list, the corresponding part of the design highlights in the thumbnail, giving you visual confirmation before you change anything.
Changing and Adding Color Functions To change a function, select it in the left panel and choose the new code from the right; the list updates immediately. If your design doesn’t have a color function code at the very beginning, you can add one: select Start at the top of the Function list, then press and hold the Origin key to insert a color function code at the start position. When you’re done, press EDIT again to exit. A confirmation screen appears; press Yes to save and return to the Main screen.
Quick check
- Selected region highlights in the thumbnail correctly.
- The Function list reflects your new code.
- You pressed Yes to save when exiting.
Pro tip Build a habit of reviewing color functions after loading every new design. It’s faster to scan and fix codes now than to stop mid-run to rethread and re-sequence. If you’re switching between garment types that benefit from stronger hold-down, plan your color edits alongside hooping—some operators schedule color steps to minimize stops on thick items paired with hardware like mighty hoops for barudan.
H2: Precision Placement: Using the Trace Function
What is the Trace Function? Trace is the placement checkpoint that confirms the current frame position and whether the design will stitch inside the hoop. The video is clear: use Trace to avoid hitting the hoop—needle damage and downtime are far more costly than a quick trace.
Square Trace vs. Outline Trace
- Square Trace: A rectangular pass around the design’s perimeter. It’s generally faster and great for a quick boundary check.
- Outline Trace: Follows the actual edges of the design. It’s slower but gives more precise confirmation relative to the hoop and material.
Watch out Skipping a trace is the fastest way to risk a broken needle—especially with designs that run close to the hoop’s inner boundary. For bulky items and specialty placements, outline tracing can catch issues a square pass might miss. As you dial in your workflow, consider whether your accessories (frames and hoops) match the material: for dense work on heavier garments, shops often prefer secure, repeatable fixturing, including options like barudan magnetic embroidery frame for consistent clamping pressure.
Quick check
- Confirm the Drive icon status: for tracing, you’ll be navigating placement before you commit to full-speed sewing.
- Run the trace and watch the head path relative to the inner hoop edge.
- Adjust your frame position if any part of the path approaches the hoop.
Pro tip Outline Trace is a confidence booster on high-precision placements (think near-seam or pocket-area logos). Consider standardizing when to use Square versus Outline in your shop SOP so every operator follows the same rules of engagement.
H2: Starting Your Embroidery Project
Operating Single Head Machines After you’ve set color functions and verified placement with Trace, confirm you’re in Drive mode (Drive icon yellow). On single head machines, press the Start button on the Automat panel to begin sewing. The video shows this clean sequence: trace, confirm, start.
Operating Multi Head Machines For multi head models, the Start button is located between the sewing heads. Press it after your placement checks. The rest of the workflow remains the same—your careful prep ensures consistent output across all heads.
From the comments Some viewers compared UI modernity and wished for newer connectivity options. The tutorial focuses on USB input and on-machine controls. If you’re evaluating your fixture mix alongside process updates, it’s worth noting how standardized hoops across heads reduce setup time. For example, when your lineup includes both tubular frames and magnetic variants, keep a quick reference for which jobs suit barudan magnetic embroidery hoop best (e.g., thicker garments that benefit from stronger hold without overtightening).
H2: Troubleshooting Common Issues
Design Not Loading
- Symptom: The design doesn’t appear in the Files list or won’t load.
- Likely causes: Incorrect folder naming (.FDR, .TFD, .PRJ), unsupported file type, or the USB isn’t fully inserted.
- Fixes: Double-check folder extensions, confirm the file type (FDR, DST, PRJ), and reseat the USB. If designs at the root appear but folders don’t, revisit the naming rule specifics shown in the video.
Color Changes Malfunctioning
- Symptom: Wrong thread is selected at a color stop or the machine isn’t stopping where expected.
- Likely causes: Mismatched or missing color function codes in the F-list.
- Fixes: Open EDIT > F-LIST, select the relevant function, and choose the correct code. If there is no starting code, select Start and hold the Origin key to insert one. Save by pressing Yes.
Design Alignment Problems
- Symptom: Stitching runs too close to the hoop or risks striking it.
- Likely causes: Placement not verified.
- Fixes: Run Trace before sewing. Use Square Trace for a quick rectangle check or Outline Trace for precise edge-following. Adjust your frame position based on the trace feedback before pressing Start.
From the comments: Thread Break Not Stopping A commenter reported that their machine no longer stops when thread breaks occur. The video doesn’t cover thread break detection or sensor settings, so specific causes aren’t provided here. If this happens, consult your machine’s service documentation or a certified technician. For prevention, keep a habit of running a trace and double-checking critical settings before long runs. If your shop frequently switches materials and hoop types (tubular vs. magnetic), standardizing fixtures—such as adopting barudan mighty hoops for bulkier items—can reduce vibration and motion that sometimes complicate consistent detection.
From the comments: Connectivity Ideas One commenter noted that using the machine’s Ethernet port with a small Wi-Fi extender created a mostly wireless workflow in their shop. Another asked for a how-to on sending files over Ethernet. The video shows only USB input and doesn’t demonstrate networking, so consider this unverified by the tutorial and evaluate with your IT/technician before adopting.
Shop Standards That Save Time
- Maintain a shared USB with clearly structured folders (.FDR/.TFD/.PRJ) and naming conventions your entire team follows.
- Build a simple F-list review step into your preflight checklist.
- Set rules for when to run Square vs. Outline Trace.
- Document Start-button locations for single vs. multi head machines so new operators avoid hesitation at the moment of truth.
- Match hoops to the garment: bulkier items often benefit from strong, even clamping pressure—teams sometimes prefer magnetic solutions like mighty hoops barudan for repeatable positioning.
Frequently Asked Checks (from the video)
- Supported file types? FDR, DST, PRJ.
- Where to add a starting color function code? In F-list, select Start, then hold Origin.
- Difference between Square and Outline Trace? Square is faster rectangular tracing; Outline follows edges with more accuracy.
Final Pass: Your Smooth Start Routine 1) Insert USB (wait for confirmation on screen). 2) Press the USB icon, locate your file via Files or Folder list, and press INPUT. 3) Open EDIT > F-LIST, check or adjust color function codes, add a start code if missing, then save (Yes). 4) Run Trace—Square for speed, Outline for precision—adjust frame if needed. 5) Confirm Drive icon is yellow. 6) Press Start on the panel (single head) or between heads (multi head). That’s it—clean and repeatable. For teams standardizing fixtures, keep your hooping matrix handy; if heavy garments are in rotation, some shops lean on options such as mighty hoops for barudan to stabilize the sew-out.
From the comments (community perspectives)
- Some viewers love the stitch quality and robustness; others find the interface dated compared to newer ecosystems. Regardless of preference, the core workflow shown here stays reliable: prep the USB, confirm the color logic, trace the boundary, and then sew. If you’re exploring hoop upgrades to accelerate operator training or reduce mis-hoops, evaluate whether a magnetic setup could help—especially for thick or slippery textiles—such as a barudan magnetic embroidery frame paired with standardized color and trace steps.
Gear note This tutorial doesn’t list specific hoop brands or sizes. If you’re researching fixture options, make sure any third-party frame you choose is compatible with your machine model. Shops often test a small selection before standardizing. For magnetic systems and repeat placements, operators sometimes mention accessories like barudan magnetic hoops in their internal SOPs to ensure consistency.
Confidence booster Nothing replaces the Trace step. It’s your last line of defense between a clean run and a hoop strike. Build the habit, keep your color codes tidy, and the rest becomes muscle memory. For high-volume days, having a consistent hooping strategy—tubulars for standard tees, magnetic for thicker layers—can reduce stop-and-start frustration. For bulkier work, a stable option like barudan magnetic embroidery hoop can help keep garments flat through the first thousand stitches.