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Product Line
Machines:
Princess and Prince
Royal and Empress
RoboQuilter
Dutchess
KQ622
KQ633
Consumables:
Thread
Supplies
IntelliStitch
Where It's Easy To Get Attached!!
and a letter-size, touch-screen operated computer. The computer is installed on the
front of the machine, the motors are snapped on the sewing arm and the cross
carriage. There are no timing belts, steel ropes, or thick cable trunks involved. The
installation of the system takes about 45 minutes in the customer's studio.
The IQ offers an interactive menu system to guide the operator through various
screens, using descriptive button labels, titles and instructions. Almost every screen
has a "?" button for help. When you hit this button, a help text will appear on the
screen, explaining all the functions of the given screen, even giving examples and hints
how to use the functions. It is like having a user manual built in the system, which
opens up automatically on the page that is relevant for the actual screen. The IQ has
all the functions and operating modes that help the operator compose and quilt high
quality custom quilts. You can compose the whole quilt before making a stitch, then
start quilting all or parts of it, or save the whole quilt for later use.
You can use blocks, pantographs, and border patterns to compose your quilt. The
system allows you to input the actual seam lines of the blocks, borders and SID seams
by moving the needle along the lines and hitting a button at the relevant points and
corners. For example, if you want to put a block pattern inside a square block, set on
point, you would enter the four corners of the square by moving the needle through
them, then select the block pattern from a catalog. After the selection the program
automatically fits the pattern to fill the block. Let's say that you entered a 12"x12"
square that was set on point and selected a pattern that in its original format was 7" by
7" and sitting on its side. About a half second after you hit the "pattern select" button,
the screen will show the pattern, turned to the on-point position and enlarged to 12" by
12". After fitting the pattern on the block you can still edit it if you did not like the
automatic fitting, or if you want to make more copies of the fitted pattern. The editing
support includes sizing, rotation, moving the pattern around the block and snapping it
to other patterns or block points, flipping, and stretching. You can zoom in to look
closely at the details, zoom out to view the whole quilt, or browse through the quilt by
moving your finger on the touch panel. The edited pattern can be repeated horizontally
and vertically, with variable horizontal and vertical distances. If you want to use
alternating patterns, just select another one, repeat it the same way as the first one
and delete every even repeat for pattern#1, and every odd repeat for pattern#2. You
can also use the delete function if you made a mistake to delete only the patterns you
don't like while keeping the rest of the design intact. You can create complex patterns
by copying the original one, mirroring or rotating it, then combining the result with the
original one and save it under a different name for future use. All these editing
functions are built in the software, you don't need to exit the quilting program, start a
graphic editor (e.g. Auto Sketch) to create your new patterns.
In addition to bock pattern editing, the system offers fully automatic functions, such as
pantograph fitting. First, you enter the shape of the pantograph area, which can be a
rectangle representing the whole quilt, or an arbitrary polygon with unlimited number of
points. Then select the pattern you want to use, and the program will repeat it
horizontally and vertically to fill the area. You can change the appearance of the
pantograph by changing the number of rows and the gap between rows (for
interlocking patterns). Every even row can be offset anywhere between +80% and
-80% of the width of the original pattern. You can also flip the even rows horizontally
and vertically, and skew them up and down. Best of all, the patterns will be clipped at
the boundaries, even if you entered an irregular area.
You can use the built-in patterns, the new ones you created, or load new patterns via
USB drive. For example, you can purchase the patterns directly from those designers
who will carry the IQ format. When downloading the purchased patterns, you specify
the USB drive, which is included with every system, as the destination of the download.
Then simply select the Load Pattern mode on the IQ and plug in the USB drive. The IQ
will recognize that the drive was plugged in and will load the patterns automatically. In
addition of the above, you can create your own patterns from scratch using the
Recording function. When you select Recording, the motors are automatically
disengaged, in about 5 seconds, and you can use the machine to sew a pattern,
without any mechanical drag. The recorded pattern can be saved and edited with the
standard editing functions.
Switching between automatic and manual modes is as easy as pushing a button on the
screen. When the Manual Mode is selected, the motors disengage automatically.
There are horizontal and vertical channel lock functions provided by selectively
engaging the arm or carriage motor with its brake activated.
The InelliQuilter hardware and software is built using the most recent developments in
technology. We use crash-proof Linux operating system and the programs are written
in highly efficient and fast C++ language. For those customers who have
Ethernet-based Internet connection (e.g. cable modem) an on-line technical support is
available, when our technician can log into the system and test or update it remotely.
Without Ethernet connection we use the USB drive-based data gathering and updating
system. The IQ system is offered in various configurations to suit the actual user
requirements. If somebody wants to use the system for high quality pantographs only,
she/he can order the PantoGrapher package. This package includes all the hardware
components, but the software is limited to the pantograph function, using existing and
downloaded patterns. There is no pattern editing, saving or recording feature in the
PantoGrapher. The Manual Mode is included in each package. The PantoGrapher
package costs under $10,000, delivery, installation and training included. The
installers may charge reasonable travel and lodging fees if the installation requires air
travel and/or overnight stay. The next level is the standard IntelliQuilter package,
costing under $12,000. This package contains all the editing functions, full custom quilt
design, pattern/quilt saving and recall, recording, contour quilting (SID).
The highest level is the IntelliMax package, which in addition of the standard features
contains full pattern creation functions. This version embeds the functionality of a
graphic designer (Auto Sketch) with the added benefit of the touch screen, by which
patterns can be drawn by moving a finger or stylus on the screen. The InelliMax
package costs under $15,000 (not including the machine).
The pattern design can be done away from the quilting machine. The computer can be
snapped off the machine allowing you to create and edit your patterns and quilts in
your living room, in the doctor's waiting room or on an airplane. You can also share
your quilt designs with others in "show and tell" meetings of your quilt groups. When
detached, the program runs in demo mode, with most of the functions still available,
(with the exception of block sampling, contour quilting, recording, etc.) You can
upgrade the system at any time by paying the difference between the levels. The
upgrade can be downloaded from our website to a USB disk and loaded into the
computer similarly to the patterns. We will continue to develop new modules for the
system, which will be available for the Standard and IntelliMax packages at various
prices reflecting the usefulness of the modules. These modules will be fully automatic
and will make quilt composition easier. One example is a "Math Quilting" module for
Baptist Fan pattern. This pattern is quite complex to be put together of predesigned
patterns (you will need about 5 elementary shapes for each fan with a different number
of arcs). With Math Quilting you just input the number of arcs and rows, and the size of
the area, and the program will calculate the stitching lines based on the mathematical
formula of the Baptist Fan. Similar method will be used for other widely used patterns,
like piano key borders, cross-hatching, etc. We are also working on simulating
hardware-based design tools, like circlemakers, ray guides, etc. We hope that the
IntelliQuilter will open new possibilities for those who want the high quality and
productivity of a computerized system, but want to pay only for features they actually
use.
Due to its unique design the IQ can be easily adapted to KenQuilt machines, including
our Dutchess midarm machine. The IQ can be set up for regulated or non-regulated
machines. It will be fully integrated with the IntelliStitch stitch regulator system, which
means that the computer can set the stitch lengths and constant speed levels. On the
other models the operator will be instructed to set the speed dials and do thread
tie-offs. For more information, please contact KenQuilt Manufacturing.
4535 E. 61st Street N.
Kechi, KS 67067
Toll free: 866-QUILTS2 (866-784-5872)
Local Phone: 316-303-0880
Fax: 316-303-0882
sales@kenquilt.com