My friend has a short arm machine on a Hinterberg frame, and when she first started she broke tons of needles. Found out she was trying to quilt too fast. The needle has to be able to flex as it moves in all directions through the fabric. If you move the machine too fast for it's speed, you will break the needle. Also, make sure your quilt sandwich is not drum tight on the frame. All the layers should be smooth and flat, but altogether it should be kind of loose in the frame.