If you are breaking needles, it's because the needle hasn't come totally out of the fabric before the fabric is moved. This either puts enough stress on the needle that it breaks, or the needle is slightly deflected and it hits the plate.
It could be you are moving the fabric too quickly, or the foot you are using isn't holding the fabric down enough, or you are holding the fabric too loosely. What kind of foot are you using? A spring foot (hopping foot) works well. It holds the fabric tight when making the stitch then releases it so it can be moved.