There are so many machines available on the market, so How do you choose the right one? PMU experts agree that no one machine is perfect for everyone. You’ll find that one machine may be perfect for creating nano-brows but not great for dark lip neutralization.
What Is a Machine Stroke?
The stroke of a tattoo machine, also known as hit, refers to the distance that the armature bar travels between its highest upright position and its lowest. The stroke is the distance that the rotary machine must travel to complete one rotation. The stroke is longer the farther the bearing is from the cam’s center.
What Is the Importance of Machine Stroke?
Machine stroke is what determines:
- How strong the machine hits: The needle moves at a greater distance each time it goes up and down, which gives it more momentum and power. This allows the needle to penetrate the skin better, especially larger groupings. However, higher power can cause more damage to the skin. For delicate areas of the skin, it is more common to use short- or medium-stroke machines.
- The speed at which the needle moves: The speed at which the needle moves in and out of the tip. A machine with a longer stroke (harder hit) will result in a decrease in needle speed.
- Your max needle depth: A short stroke limits how far your needle can stick out. Your needle must have a minimum depth so it can reach the cartridge tube’s ink with every up-and-down movement.
This post was written by Natali Roshau. Natali has over 10 years of experience as a lash artist and is the owner of Lash Addict Studio. Lash Addict Studio offers eyelash extensions and is the best lash studio in Seminole FL. In addition to being a lash artist, she also offers eyelash training certifying girls across the nation!
