Table of Contents
Watch the video: “HB Series Moly Cut Tech Video Series Machine Threading” by EDM Performance
If your HB Series Moly Cut has started to squeal, shed wire, or just hit that scheduled changeover, this is your clean, repeatable path back to smooth cutting. In the video, Clay from EDM Performance re-threads an HB Series Moly Cut EDM from old wire removal to fresh wire indexed and ready to run.
What you’ll learn
- How to position the head and use Wire Prep mode to safely access and stage the drum.
- A tidy, controlled way to unspool old wire without a rat’s nest.
- The exact threading path through rollers, guides, and the seal plate.
- How to set left/right drum limits and unlock tension for stable tracking.
- Why indexing carbide spots matters when you load fresh wire.
Prepping Your EDM for Wire Threading
Positioning the Machine Head Move the head to the back corner so you can stand comfortably and see both the drum and the roller path. This improves reach for threading and room for your hands. Then, open all covers to expose the path and keep sightlines clear for checks.
Enabling Wire Prep Mode From the control panel, select Wire Prep mode. In this mode, a single button controls drum movement: tap for low speed, press-and-hold for high speed. Use high speed to index and stop the drum precisely on the right-hand side, just as it’s about to switch direction. That stop gives you direct access to the wire end for unhooking.
Watch out
- Don’t overshoot the stop. Pause the drum just as it slows for direction change so the wire end is easy to reach.
- Moving too fast while the wire is still tied off can twist or kink it.
Removing the Old Wire
Locking Out the Tensioner With the drum staged, lock the tensioner out to release wire tension. Unhook the wire from the drum and cut it free. Pull the old wire out cleanly. Attach your unspooler snugly so it won’t wobble as you pull.
Pro tip Before you pull, make sure the wire is routed around one of the back rollers so the lower roller turns with it. This keeps the path orderly as the wire exits. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines
Unspooling the Used Wire Confirm the wire is tied off and routed correctly around the rollers. Then turn off Wire Prep and switch to Tension mode to pull the remaining wire off at a controlled pace. When the old wire is completely unspooled, switch Tension off and turn Wire Prep back on.
Quick check
- Is the tie-off holding?
- Are the rollers turning evenly as wire comes off?
- Any signs of snagging? If so, pause and re-route before continuing.
Cleaning and Inspection
Discarding Old Spools Once the old wire is fully off, remove the empty spool and discard it. A clean start makes a clean finish.
Wiping Down Key Components Use a simple green–type cleaner and a clean cloth to wipe the drum, all rollers, the carbides, and the guides—front and back. Clear away debris and residue, and look for damaged surfaces or nicks. The video does not specify torque values for hardware; “snug” is the guidance shown.
Watch out If the cutter or pliers have scarred a guide or roller in the past, it will show up as inconsistent tracking later. Address anything that looks sharp or out of round now. magnetic embroidery hoops
Threading the New Wire: Step-by-Step Guide
Attaching to the Drum Move the left drum limit out of the way and set the right limit about an inch in from the side. Run the drum at high speed and stop exactly at the right limit. Cut a fresh end on the new wire. Pull a little wire back, find the anchor tab on the drum, hook the wire, then pull it tight and wrap it. In the demo, the tensioner is locked in the middle setting for this stage.
From the comments A viewer noted the video feels light on “putting wire ON the spool.” The on-screen steps do show hooking to the anchor tab, tensioning, and wrapping while staged at the right-hand limit; however, detailed spool-winding technique beyond these wraps is not elaborated in the footage. embroidery machine hoops
Navigating Rollers and Guides Create a small gap by jogging the drum about 30 turns so the wire can lay down cleanly. Unhook the wire end and thread through the back rollers, starting at the first roller and working upward. Pull 6–8 feet of extra wire and use a small magnet to hold it—this slack makes guiding easier. Remove the drum guide as shown, then feed the wire through the upper guide; if the tip mushrooms from cutting, clip a fresh end. Feed the lower guide and snug both guides with a wrench. Pull out the magnet and re-seat the wire on the bottom rollers.
Pro tip Use clean, sharp clippers so your wire end stays round. A mushroomed tip is the most common reason a guide entry denies you on the first pass. magnetic embroidery hoop
Passing Through the Seal Plate Verify you still have some extra wire. From the back, push the wire through the seal plate and pass it to yourself at the front. Confirm the wire is on the bottom roller. Route through the tensioner rollers, under the spool path, and back onto the front drum anchor. Wrap the anchor twice and trim excess so there’s no tail to snag.
Watch out
- Keep your hands clear of pinch points when feeding through the tensioner path.
- Make sure the wire stays on the bottom rollers—mis-seating here leads to tracking issues later. hoop master
Setting Drum Limits for Optimal Performance
Adjusting Left and Right Limits Gently rock the back drum to confirm all rollers—upper, lower, and tensioner—spin freely. Push a bit of wire through and watch how it lays. Then start setting limits:
- Align the left lower drum limit (magnetic sensor) with its contactor.
- Run the drum in low speed toward the right and stop about 1/4 inch before the side.
- Set the right lower limit.
- Run back in high speed and stop about 1/4 inch before the left side.
- If your gap looks wide, loosen the bottom adjuster and nudge it about a quarter inch tighter.
- Trip the contactor with a metal tool to verify switching works.
Park the drum roughly at mid-travel when done.
Why the gaps matter A small buffer at both ends prevents the drive from hitting its extremes and reduces the risk of breaking at tie-off points. This aligns with viewer feedback: the “inner double gap” shown briefly is not typical; the key is keeping a modest clearance so direction changes don’t shock the wire.
Activating Wire Tension Unlock the tensioner: pull it out, turn, and seat the pin so full tension applies to the wire. With tension active, run the drum in high speed edge to edge and confirm the lay is even and the reversal points are smooth. The video does not specify numeric tension values. If you see bunching near the reversal zones, revisit the 1/4 inch clearances. magnetic frames for embroidery machine
Final Checks and Adjustments
Verifying Roller Movement Before closing up, rock the drum and confirm every roller is spinning freely. If any roller hesitates, diagnose before you go live—drag here becomes broken wire later. The wire should lay over smoothly with no leaps or overlaps.
Indexing Carbide Spots Close the covers, then index a fresh carbide spot anytime you install fresh wire. Depending on machine build, you’ll loosen flats or a 10 mm nut, rotate 90 degrees, and snug it back down. Repeat on the lower carbide if it has a 10 mm fastener. This gives the new wire a clean contact point and protects cut quality. The video does not provide torque specs—tighten securely without overdoing it.
Quick check
- Wire runs smoothly at high speed with even lay.
- Covers closed and latched.
- Carbides rotated 90 degrees to a fresh spot and tightened.
Troubleshooting cues
- Wire won’t feed through a guide: re-clip the end to remove a mushroom, then try again with a straighter lead.
- Wire walks to one side of the drum: revisit left/right limit placement and ensure 1/4 inch buffer at both ends.
- A roller isn’t turning: stop immediately and correct seating on the roller; verify no debris remains from cleaning.
From the comments: community wisdom on gaps A viewer asked why the two side gaps are needed. Another viewer replied that the end clearances prevent the drive from crashing at its extremes and that a small buffer of wire helps avoid breakage near the tie-off points. Note that a doubled inner gap visible in the clip isn’t a standard target; keep it modest and even on both sides.
Safety and housekeeping notes
- Avoid pulling wire too fast to prevent tangling.
- Use a good set of clippers so the end doesn’t mushroom.
- Inspect for broken parts during cleaning; stop and repair before threading.
- PPE isn’t specified in the video; follow your facility’s standards.
What’s not specified in the video
- Exact tension values (grams) are not shown—only the act of enabling tension and unlocking the tensioner.
- Torque specifications for guides are not provided—“snug” is demonstrated.
- Specific wire material details beyond “Moly Cut” are not given.
Why this sequence works The order—prep, safe removal, thorough clean, controlled threading, limit setting, and carbide indexing—minimizes variables. You identify and fix friction points during slow, observable stages so the first high-speed run is boring in the best way: stable, predictable, and repeatable. embroidery machine for beginners