So can I take it from this that a little 1 inch square magnetic seam guide I used to use on my old machine would be quite safe on my new 730??

My older Bernina, a 1090 (one of the earlier computerized machines) would get a bit wacky when I put one of the plastic magnetic pin holders to the right of the machine. I'd be stitching along and my machine would jump to a different stitch and then jump back to the original stitch. I thought there was something major wrong with it. I read something somewhere about the magnetic issue and when I took the pin holder away from the machine, it never happened again. So maybe it was the earlier machines that were susceptible to it - I know mine was - and was I relieved to find out there was nothing wrong with the machine and there was no damage done.

Hans Herzog at Bernina of American says not to worry about magnets and Bernina machines. I was in Aurora in October for technician training and the subject came up. The only component sensitive to a magnet is the EEPROM and it's so far inside the machine that a sewer cannot get near it.

Use your magnetic pin cushions with impunity.

Susan Simpson Berbec, quilter
Bernina Brand Educator
Certified Bernina Technician

Hi Linda in Iceland! During one of my sewing classes over the summer I asked my Bernina tech about a chunky pin magnet on a wrist strap I had that I wanted to carry in a portable sewing tool kit inside my Bernina Aurora 440QE carrying case. The magnet would have been close to the stocky part of the machine, and I was concerned. I showed him my items of concern, and he told me that my machine was shielded, and that it would all be fine in there. It is probably best to ask in each case.

Louisa
SE OK

An acquaintance put her magnetic pin dish too close to her computerized sewing machine (not a Bernina) and caused some major damage. I've been reluctant since hearing that to keep a magnetic dish near my Bernina.

I also keep my magnetic pin dish to the right of my 730 and 150 before that and it's been fine. I wondered about that too, but figured it was okay since nothing happened sooner. Hi Pooh.

Regular household-type magnets aren't nearly srong enough to hurt your Bernina. Between you and the innerworkings of your Bernina, in addition to the composite outer housing ou see, are two steel plates, shielding everything form dinky little magnets. I wouldn't risk it with any other brand, but I keep my magneticpin cushion right in the throat of my 200 (and my 150 before that) with no worries. Just to be on the safe side, do keep it away from the screen, though.

Your friend is kind of right. You never want to have super strong magnets on or next to anything computerized. With that said, the little magnet you are using is not strong enough to do any damage to the computer system. If you are using a magnet you have to plug in, then yes you will damage anything computerized. I highly doubt you have one of those, so your little magnet pin dish will be fine.

A friend told me that you can't put the magnetic pin dish on the bed of the Bernina computerized sewing machines. I have had my 153 for 5 years and always placed it to the right of the needle with no problems. I checked the manual and don't see any reference to this either. Can anyone help me with the possible urban myth?