Home embroidery machines are of two types: hybrids that can sew and embroider or machines designed to embroider only. Both are small portable units. The machines feature on-board computers that automate and speed up many steps in the embroidery process. They use universal serial bus (USB) ports to connect to a computer or read a memory key. Some machines have Flash card slots.
Commercial embroidery machines are large, expensive devices built for large-scale projects. They feature six to 10 needles, so you don't have to rethread every time you change colors. The machines self-thread and some can change thread colors automatically. The machines have large high definition (HD) liquid crystal (LCD) screens and can embroider 1,000 stitches per minute.
Computerized embroidery machines use specialized digitizing software to implement and store embroidery designs, patterns and monogram fonts. The machines feature a variety of built-in, machine-format designs and stitch patterns. The software uses PEC, PES, DST, FDR or PHC files. The programs can rotate, size, mirror and duplicate embroidery designs.
Embroidery machines employ a variety of sizes of rectangular or round hoop frames to hold the material being embroidered. The standard hoop size is 4 inches by 5 inches. Automatic thread-cutters trim the top and bottom threads when colors are changed. Many of the machines feature walking presser feet to smoothly feed the material without wrinkling or binding.