Machine Beds

Classification and Application

• Bed is the lower surface of the machine under which the feed
mechanisms and loopers are located

• Bed type affects how garments are presented to the needle

and the rate of production

• Variations in sewing machine shapes are available which

enable easier movement of the materials around the machine

• These variations primarily affect the shape of the bed of the

machine – the part on which the material rests

SPME I - DFT Sem III 2

• Basically there are 4 bed types:

1. Flat bed – L/S & C/S machines

2. Cylinder bed – L/S & C/S machines
3. Post bed – L/S & C/S machines
4. Feed-off-Arm – only in C/S machines

• Blind felling (class 103) machine has a special

shaped bed as like the over-edge machine which has
no fabric space to the right of the needle

SPME I - DFT Sem III 3

SPME I - DFT Sem III 4
Flat Bed / Fully Submerged Bed
• Used in majority of sewing machines where a large and
open garment part can be easily handled

• Cloth plate is mounted horizontally on the bed

• Allows manipulation of fabric on both sides of needle

for topstitching and lapped seaming

• Fully Submerged Bed Types ideal for small parts and

where positioning parts to the needle is a "slide" from
the tabletop

SPME I - DFT Sem III 5

SPME I - DFT Sem III 6
 Semi-Submerged Bed
• Semi-Submerged Bed Machine for assembly of medium to
large parts

SPME I - DFT Sem III 7

 Cylinder Bed
• Also called as “open-arm” used to sew tubular items, small parts, curved
parts or otherwise parts awkward in shape

• These machines feature a narrow, horizontal column as opposed to a flat

base.
• This allows fabric to pass around and under the column.
• The diameter of the cylinder-bed varies from 5 cm to 16 cm.
• Cloth plate is located horizontally at the upper end of a horizontal cylinder

• Sleeve, Cuffs, Armholes and Round neck bands

• Also useful for bulky items such as saddles and shoes

• Feed-up, around and off-the-arm cylinder bed are the different types of
cylinder bed

SPME I - DFT Sem III 8

Cylinder Bed Lockstitch Machine

SPME I - DFT Sem III 9

Cylinder Bed Chain stitch Machine

SPME I - DFT Sem III 10

 FOA
• Bed is U-shaped, used for closing a tube like inseams of jeans
(lap-fell seam), sleeves and other long seams in tight places

SPME I - DFT Sem III 11

SPME I - DFT Sem III 12
 Raised Bed –Over Edge M/C
• Raised Bed Machines where the entire machine is mounted on the top of
the table 
• Ex. over-edge machines where it trims the fabric edge in-front of needle
before sewing

SPME I - DFT Sem III 13

RAISED BED CHAINSTITCH M/C
Used where you need the
garment to drape away from the
needle for better handling

SPME I - DFT Sem III 14

Applications:

• Attaching laces, making shoulder straps, and general Zig-Zag works.

• Attaching elastic trim or lace to leg or waist sections of ladies body suits,
swim suits.

• Attaching elastic trim or lace to corsets, bras, etc. Also can work for
decorative sewing.

• Decorative sewing for ladies‘ body suits, negligee, etc.

• For felling and joining collar on men's jacket, decorative sewing & fasten
articles.

SPME I - DFT Sem III 15

 Post Bed
Post bed machine where the needle plate and
foot are mounted on a tall post that facilitates
sewing in tight spaces like inside sleeve cap,
or shoes

Cloth plate is attached horizontally to the top

of a narrow post or small platform above
table surface

Used for small concave curved parts like on

bras and shoes

It facilitates the assembly of pre-sewn

parts and is especially suitable for the
fitting of accessories and special
attachments

SPME I - DFT Sem III 16

• These machines feature bobbins, feed dogs and/or loopers in a vertical
column that rises above the flat base of the machine.

• The height of this column ranges from 10 cm to 45 cm.

• Applications that make access to the sewing area difficult, such as

attaching emblems, boot making and glove making utilize the post-bed
machine

SPME I - DFT Sem III 17

SPME I - DFT Sem III 18
Types of Sewing Machine
Flat bed machine (basis type)
Raised bed machine
Post bed machine
Cylinder bed machine
Side bed machine
Stitch Type Features and Uses
Lockstitch, Chain stitch The large working area allows a wide range of application; the material can
easily be guided around the needle and the presser foot
This basic type is used for all kinds of flat sewing work.
Lockstitch, Chain stitch The bedplate is in the form of a plinth. It facilitates the assembly of pre-sewn
parts and is especially suitable for the fitting of accessories and special
attachments. This is the basic form for various specialized machines such as
buttonholers.
Lockstitch, Chain stitch This type has an increased working height
Special applications are found in the working of three-dimensional products. e.g.
shoes and bags.
The post makes it easier to work on tight curves and corners, to sew in sleeves
and to complete large, half-assembled products.
Lockstitch, Chain stitch This type has an increased working height and a bed in the shape of a horizontal
arm.
It is especially suitable for working on tubular parts, such as cuffs, sleeves, and
trouser legs, and also for button sewing and bar tacking.
It is used extensively in the making of clothing from knitted fabrics.
Chain stitch, Over-edge Machines which are specialized for sewing at edges need only a small working
area
SPME I - DFT Sem III 19