• Model: Juki DDL 8700
• Manufacturer: Juki
• Manual: PDF

This machine is great for working with long straight items like draperies and bedding using fabric ranging from light to medium weight.

Maximum sewing speed is 5500 stitches per minute!

The Tool Safety, Tool Care, Operation, section of this guide are what instructors use to ensure that you can use the equipment according to community expectations.

Industrial Sewing Machine clearance or class equivalent is required before use.

🚫 Do not push or pull material while stitching.
⚠️ Power off the machine before threading, inserting the bobbin, or handling the needle.
⚠️ Keep hair, loose clothing, and fingers away from all moving parts!

See the Safety Section for more information.

1. Light - For easy viewing
2. Straight Stitch - The Machine
3. Thread Holders  - Please Note: The secondary holder is for continual bobbin winding
4. Bobbin Winder
5. Maintenance Tag - Manually tracks the usability status with Green/Yellow/Red cards
6. Knee Presser Foot Lifter - Knee operated lever that lifts the presser foot while sewing
7. On/Off Switch - Main power to the machine
8. Foot Pedal - Controls the speed of the motor

1. Manual Presser Foot Lifter (not seen, around back)
2. Presser Foot Height Adjustment
3. Thread Guide
4. Oil Level Indicator
5. Hand Wheel
6. Thread Tension and Guides
7. Stitch Length Knob
8. Bobbin Winder Tensioner
9. Needle
10. Reverse Lever
11. Bobbin Winder Spindle

• Safety glasses are recommended.

Check the needle condition prior to sewing, be sure it is the correct size for the material being sewn, and it is not bent or chipped.

Never sew over pins, staples or other metal materials, as this may cause the needle to shatter, resulting in bodily harm and severe machine damage.

Always turn the handwheel towards you, (down) never away.

The most common hazards are thread jams and broken needles. Watch for binds, jams, and bird nests—stop immediately if they occur.

• Ensure the needle and thread are removed before winding a bobbin
• Avoid pulling/pushing fabric, which may misalign and break the needle

The most significant hazard is injury. Always power off and run the machine until the motor drains before handling, adjusting, or threading.

• Keep fingers 3” away from the needle
• Power off and drain the motor before:
  • Threading
  • Replacing needles
  • Removing jams

• Tie back hair and scarves
• Tuck sleeves behind elbows

Thread Jams and needle breakage are critical concerns. Material that is too thick or rigid will lead to needle breakage. Material that is too slick (plasticized or otherwise “finished”) will slide against the presser foot and cause thread jams and/or needle breakage.

Industrial machines will not “step over” pins in the fabric. Hitting one may break the needle and send broken parts into the hook below.

For those reasons, it is important to avoid:

• Abrasives
• Paper and cardboard products
• Pins in the fabric
• Plastics
• Rigid Material (non-fabric)

1. Wipe down the machine and bed to clean up any oil or dust.
2. Check the oil level, see Maintenance.
3. Power on the machine.
4. Wind the bobbin.
5. Power off the machine to insert the bobbin and thread the machine.
6. Thread the machine.
7. Ensure the needle is usable and appropriate for the material and thread.
8. Lower the presser foot and begin operation.

Appropriate needles and bobbins are available in the consumables section of our store front. Both are sold individually for ease and convenience.

Members are responsible for bringing their own thread and fabric.

• Bobbin: Juki #229-32909 metal bobbin
  

• Thread:
• Must be in a Cone or Vicone to accommodate the high speed
• Always use the same thread in the upper tension and in the bobbin

• Fabric Light to medium weight

• Needle:
• Size Range for machine:
  • DBx1 #9 to #18 (Organ)
  • 134 #65 to #110 (Groz-Beckert)
• Point Type: appropriate to fabric
• Weight: appropriate to the thread and fabric
• Eye: must be 40% larger than the thickness of the thread

1. Grab a needle and about 12 inches of the intended thread
2. Thread the needle
3. Hold both ends of the thread, creating a 60 degree slope with one end to see if the needle is able to slide along the slope
4. Reverse the process to see if the needle slides back

If the needle does not freely slide down the thread, the size may be too small. As a general rule, you’ll want the smallest size needle that will slide freely down the thread.

1. Raise the presser foot by winding the handwheel (a) counterclockwise
2. Ensure there is nothing near the needle while filling the bobbin

It does not disengage while winding like a consumer machine

1. Pass the thread through the guide on the tension and between the disks (b).
2. Pass the thread between a hole on the bobbin case ©.
3. Rotate the case 2-3 times to manually wind the thread for traction.
4. Place the bobbin on the spindle, holding onto the tail of loose thread.
5. Gently press the foot pedal to wind the bobbin. It will stop when full.

Please watch this video, which includes details of winding and placing the bobbin in the case.

Example Video 

Thread the machine following the order of (1) through (11) as shown above.

Move the handwheel towards you, never away to get the top thread to take up the bobbin thread.

1. Setup the machine
2. Raise the presser foot with the knee pedal to load fabric
3. Test by sewing on scrap similar to what you will be sewing
4. Adjust the tension and stitch length
5. Remove test and trim threads
6. Load and align project fabric
7. Back stitch/reverse to keep your stitch from unraveling
8. Sew
9. Cleanup

1. Direction A clockwise - to increase needle thread tension.
2. Direction B counterclockwise - to decrease needle thread tension.
   

• Turn tension adjustment screw 2 clockwise (in direction C), to increase bobbin thread tension.
• Turn tension adjustment screw 2 counterclockwise (in direction D), to decrease bobbin thread tension.

Normal tension	Too loose. Turn the dial clockwise to increase tension.
	Too tight. Turn the tension nut counter clockwise to reduce the tension.

Power off  and drain the machine Unthread machine head and spool Remove bobbin Wipe down, vacuum, and blow out lint and stray clippings Sweep up threads, lint, and debris and deposit in waste bins Return checkout kit

1. Update the physical Maintenance Tag at the machine
   • 🟢Green can be used without issue
   • 🟡Yellow can be used withcaution
   • ⛔Red cannot be used without hazard to either the user or the equipment

- Record issues at protohaven.org/maintenance. This notifies our staff and volunteer maintenance crew of any issues.

For all of the following, please make a Special Setup Arrangement with a Protohaven Staff Member to gain clearance in advance of use. Consider whether you need specialty adjustments as part of an extended project, or if the adjustments or accessories are temporary.

For large projects, a second bobbin can be wound while sewing.

1. A second spool of thread is required.
2. The needle and presser foot remain in place, and sewing can continue.
3. Follow all other instructions in “Bobbin Winding” above

The amount of thread pulled from the spool can be adjusted to allow thicker or thinner materials to sew more precisely. All adjustments must be reverted to the average settings when finished.

Cording foot, Left/Right piping, Zipper foot, Hemmer - User is responsible for purchasing

The machine is set for average types of fabric, but can be adjusted for very fine fabric or very thick. The feed dogs can be changed out for various weights, but the user is responsible for purchasing these and re-setting the machine completely after use.

Threading and overview

Machine capabilities

Sewing Gold Channel : (multiple industrial machine videos)

Wawak —Place to buy Needles and thread of every type, including heavy duty and embroidery

The Thread Exchange - thread and needles

Needle buying Guide

Needle and thread Guide

Bobbin Guide

If you are part of the maintenance group please log on to the #maintenance channel of our Discord server to:

• Perform a Maintenance Action
• Request a Maintenance Purchase
• Review complete Maintenance Logs for each machine
• Generally chit-chat about maintenance

The following should be in a Maintenance tool kit for the….

• item1
• item2