Firmware 2.11 is posted for all current touch screen model HAPPY machines, including single-head models HCD2-1501, HCS2-1201 Voyager and HCH-701 Journey, and all current touchscreen multi-head models.  This update encompasses features from previous (but not published) firmware 2.10 and firmware 2.11, so they’re summarized below.

New Features in 2.10 from 2.00

There are several new features included in 2.1o that are added from the previous firmware 2.00:

  • New HAPPY Japan Logo on the startup screen of the machine
  • “AUTO” Setting for Laser Marker on HCH-701 models only: when activated, causes the machine to automatically activate the laser pointer when the machine is not sewing (useful for trace purposes and spotting the sewing point at-a-glance
  • Notification when performing manual color change: The machine now asks the operator, if a different needle is selected manually i.e. the operator moves the head to a different needle, if they want the newly-selected needle to replace programmed needle in the actively-sewing section in the current design.
  • Optional QWERTY keyboard for lettering mode: can be selected from Option screen, accessed in the main menu
  • Maximum cap sewing speed increases from 750spm to 850spm (HCS2 models only).

New Feature in 2.11 from 2.10

Firmware 2.11 adds 1 important new feature: the ability to load and set up designs while the machine is sewing.  This feature is added by the operator in the “iCustom” setup screen accessed from the main menu so that it becomes a shortcut button on the right side of the main (drive) screen.  So, while the machine is sewing, the operator can do the following:

  • Read in a design from USB stick
  • Set the colors of the newly-loaded design from the needle screen
  • Use the Setting screen to re-size the design, add pull compensation or rotate the design
  • Use the Pattern screen to select another design that is already in memory as the next design or to perform adjustments to it in the Setting screen.

General Instructions for Updating

  1. Click the appropriate link for your machine at the bottom of this post to download the correct ZIP file for your machine’s firmware. For 1-head models, this should be called “firmware211_7inch.zip”. For multi-head models, it should be called “firmware211_hcr2_10inch.zip”
  2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a USB thumb drive. You’ll be prompted for a password.  Enter the password “happy2251” to continue.  The result should be a folder single folder called “UpdateFile” on your thumb drive.
  3. Insert the thumb drive with the extracted update into your machine.
  4. From the machine’s sewing (drive) screen, navigate to the main menu, press OTHER then VERSION.
  5. On the resulting screen, press UPDATE, which should then show the new version detected, then OK to continue the update process. The update will take place automatically and may take several minutes. The update is complete when the machine has automatically restarted successfully.Disclaimer: improper firmware update may disable your machine. Read instructions carefully before proceeding, and contact support. Additional note: If your machine does not display an “UPDATE” button on its “VERSION” screen, contact support for an alternate procedure.

Firmware 2.11 adds 1 important new feature: the ability to load and set up designs while the machine is sewing.  This feature is added by the operator in the “iCustom” setup screen accessed from the main menu so that it becomes a shortcut button on the right side of the main (drive) screen.  So, while the machine is sewing, the operator can do the following:

  • Read in a design from USB stick
  • Set the colors of the newly-loaded design from the needle screen
  • Use the Setting screen to re-size the design, add pull compensation or rotate the design
  • Use the Pattern screen to select another design that is already in memory as the next design or to perform adjustments to it in the Setting screen.