Those of you who are lucky enough to own longarm machines....can you comment on why it is or isn't necessary to get a machine that's regulated? I assume it's similar to the Bernina BSR? It seems all the top award winners that are featured on all the programs tout the stitch regulated machines and I was wondering how important it is. There are a ton of older non-regulated machines on the market and I assume they can't be upgraded? Thanks for your opinions.

I would never make it without the stitch regulater.
It keeps the stitches all the same size no matter how slow or fast you move the machine.

I have a short arm setup, but same principle. It has a stitch regulator, and I couldn't work without it. I am not consistent in how I move the machine, so the regulator helps keep my stitches more even. However it is not foolproof, and I am a fool that can cause great, long stitches even with a regulator!! :-) :-)

I have a stitch regulator on mine, but as Jancie stated not fool proof. I have some quilts with some very uneven stitches on it even though the stitch regulator was turned on. I am thinking of trying it without it and see if there is a big difference. Could be I don't know.

Nettie

I have a stitch regulator on mine. It is great but I do have to be careful when I first push the button to start stitching to be sure to wait until I hear the beep before I start moving the machine otherwise my first stitch will be to long but that is the only one. When I turn off the stitch regulator and start stitching manually it is a wake up call to me as to how helpful the stitch regulator really is.

I think if you never had one you can't miss it. My machine does have it and I love it. I really never have not used it. I like it because I can stop and think about what I'm doing or where I want to go next without having to turn the machine off or the stitching (what ever you want to call it). They say the machines run smoother with it off and it does, but it's also another learning curve you have to go thru. Just me 2 cents worth.

I would do without my "Shirley Stitcher" before I would do without the stitch regulator.

I have a stitch regulator on mine. I use it most of the time. I do turn it off when I'm doing a very tight background fill. It is easy to outrun it while doing the fills.

Do these work similarly to how the BSR on Berninas work? With a small laser light that "reads" the speed of the fabric going by?

I have a stitch regulator which i NEVER USE. I have a few times turned it on, it drives me crazy! i have a friend who rents time on my machine and always uses it. when i teach people to use the machine i do not allow them to use it until they are comfortable with the machine, i think of it just like cruise control on your car, if you do not have good control on your own you have no business setting the cruise control (at least that's my thought process) so, once you learn to use the machine and self-regulate fairly well, then go ahead and 'turn it on'...i think that the machines on the market are probably still 'up-gradeable' but it is an expensive feature to add. I bought my machine new and the regulator option added $1,700 to the cost of the machine...i really feel like i wasted my money, but i know people who love them and would not even try to quilt without...so, i guess it is a relative thing; depends on each individual.