When my Bernina Artista 180 was my only machine, I had it serviced faithfully every year. I feel that when you spend a lot on a machine, the cost of having them serviced regularly is a small price to pay. Now that I have a lot of machines, I don't take them in as often. The vintage ones only go in when there's a problem I can't fix. The Bernina and Juki I tend to stretch to every 18 months. I do have a schedule to clean and oil my vintage machines though