Up Front Stylus System

The Circle Lord Up Front Stylus system works only on the APQS Millienium and Freedom size machines. To use it on the Liberty, a new shorter Crossbar is needed.
The following pictures describe how it is sits on the front rollers, and how it is moved around, and positioned. This system is built around the Circle Lord attachment that was designed for the back table. We use some everyday items to make it work.

Place the Circlelord assembly over the front rails, with the Red Handle Clamp to the back. To help support the Base Plate, we supply a wooden, and a plastic support. It is recommended that you cut a piece of heavy cardboard to 25" x 19" . Cut out the corners, so that it will fit between the end blades. Then staple, glue or screw one end over the wooden support. You can add some painters tape to attach it to the crossbar for ease of movement. I tried hardboard and foam board. The cardboard is best, as it is the stiffest. Pull the Red Handle Clamp back lightly to stabilize the Crossbar.

Circlelord assembly on the front rollers with cardboard support attached

To move along rollers, make sure that the zipper is not in contact with the rubber on the blades, and then slide it in the direction you want to go. After getting close to your final position, use the slide arm to do your final centering.

Using the Micro-Featherz template

The Stylus arm is attached by removing the screw behind the light and replacing them with the wide head screws supplied. Leave the halfway out. Place the right slot under the screw head and the put the keyhole over the right screw head. Tighten screws with a flathead screwdriver. Goes on and off in seconds.

11/14/09
Because the CL Crossbar is shorter when on the back, it will not clamp fully when on the front.
If there is a problem with Red Handle Clamp slippage, I have found that a bungy cord hooked on the clamp and then on the back of the cross bar will keep pressure on it.

Let's be Up Front!

Saturday October 15, 2009

UP FRONT VIDEO On YouTube

The Circle Lord Front Stylus is available now. It will will become part of the APQS Millenium Circle Lord Basic + kit. The Circle Lord price will remain $699.00. It will also include the Spiro Thingy. The price of The Front Stylus set for APQS Circle Lord owners is $99.99 + shipping. Just write or call for more information, or to get your pre-order in. The Circle Lord for all other models will now include the Spiro Thingy and a $100.00 allowance towards a 12 inch template.

Proto-Type Front Stylus set-up for Circle Lord on Millenium

Hi,

Here is the latest on the development of the Stylus holder for the front of the APQS Millenium. It's just about in its final form.
The Stylus holder arm has two positions for the stylus. One, for the 12 inch templates, and another for the 18 inch ones, such as Crosshatch templates.
When you quilt from the front with the Circle Lord Front Stylus, you use 30 inches on the left, if your machine is up against a wall, 16 inches otherwise, So the maximum width available is about 128 inches, if you quilt is mounted all the way to the right. A short Slide Arm is available for tight fits.
The Stylus can be lifted, and held up by the holder. Just twist and it will drop down again.
The Stylus holder arm will be made to hold the Push Button solenoid. You can, either buy a set up for the front, or move your selenoid from the back and attache it to one of the stylus on the front. More about the Pros and Cons of the Push Button later.

I found that I was watching the stitching, rather than the stylus while doing the Featherz. It did give me the option of tracking more accurately while back stitching. Because you don't have to lift the stylus while doing the Featherz wreath, I could use my left hand on the stepping disk, while watching the pattern. Goes faster.
Looks like cost for the Front Stylus set will be less than $100.00 - Circle Lord extra!
Here are some pictures

Inside Stylus for 12 inch templates

Using outside stylus postion for 18 inch Crosshatch template

Stylus at back of template

L