Embroidery Machine Guide

Melco · Multi-needle · Specs checked October 2026

Melco EMT16X: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: EMT 16X, EMT-16X, Melco EMT 16X

Melco's current 16-needle commercial machine. It has a 16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm) sew field, up to 1,500 stitches per minute and a cap driver in the package. One computer can run up to 30 networked machines. Melco publishes no price.

The Melco EMT16X is a 16-needle embroidery machine with a 16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm) embroidery field. It reads .OFM, .EXP, .DST files and gets designs by USB cable to a computer.

EMT16X hoop size and embroidery area

The EMT16X can stitch a design up to 16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm) in one hooping, which is the 9.5 × 14 in size. That is the field limit: a larger hoop from another maker will not let it stitch a bigger area.

EMT16X field8 × 126 × 105 × 74 × 4
The EMT16X field (filled) next to standard hoop sizes, drawn to scale.

Optional from Melco: XL hoop (largest sew field) (16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm)).

Cap frame: Wide angle cap frame (about 14.1 × 3.25 in) (14 × 3.2 in (360 × 82 mm)), included; Conventional cap frame (about 5.9 × 2.75 in) (6 × 2.8 in (152 × 70 mm)), sold separately.

Fits in one hooping at typical size: left chest, full front, full back, pocket, sleeve, cap front, cap side and back, beanie, towel, baby onesie, baby bib, tote bag, pillow cover, quilt block, patch.

Check if your design fits the EMT16X

What file format does the EMT16X use?

The EMT16X reads .OFM, .EXP and .DST files. You load designs by USB cable to a computer. Designs in other formats (for example .JEF or .PES) need converting first with embroidery software.

Where to buy the Melco EMT16X

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Melco EMT16X specs

TypeMulti-needle (16 needles)
Embroidery field16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm)
Hoops includedNot listed
Optional hoopsXL hoop (largest sew field) (16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm))
Cap frameWide angle cap frame (about 14.1 × 3.25 in) (included); Conventional cap frame (about 5.9 × 2.75 in) (optional)
File formats it reads.OFM, .EXP, .DST
Design transferUSB cable to a computer
Max embroidery speed1500 stitches per minute
Weight164.5 lb (74.6 kg)
StatusSold new
Skill levelAdvanced

Who the EMT16X is for

A decorating shop that wants 16 colors loaded at once, room for jacket backs and the option to add more heads later. Skip it if you want a home machine, a posted price or something small and light.

Strengths

  • 16 needles hold 16 thread colors at once, so multi-color designs need fewer thread changes
  • Melco's spec table lists a 16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm) maximum sew field, and its XL hoop is made for full jacket backs
  • Sews flat goods at 300 to 1,500 stitches per minute and caps at 300 to 1,200
  • A cap driver and frame kit come in the package; the wide angle cap frame is 14.1 × 3.25 in (360 × 82 mm) with a 270 degree sew field
  • One computer can control up to 30 EMT16X machines over Ethernet, so you can add heads as the business grows

Limits

  • Melco posts no price and asks buyers to contact a representative for an estimate
  • Heavy: about 164.5 lb (74.6 kg) without the cart and 210.5 lb (95.5 kg) with its wheeled cart
  • Run from a computer-based interface (Melco OS), and Melco does not publish a screen size
  • Cap sewing tops out at 1,200 stitches per minute, below the 1,500 for flat goods, and Melco calls the cap field garment dependent

Good to know: Specs come from Melco's EMT16X single head brochure (a 4-page PDF) and Melco's EMT16X, multi-head and cap pages. Melco's spec table gives the maximum sew field as 16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm) and the largest tubular frame as 19.7 × 16.9 in (500 × 430 mm); the field is used here. The EMT16X page says 15.7 × 16.1 in with the XL hoop, and Melco's UK frame page gives an XL field of 410 × 385 mm, so the XL hoop is listed at the full 410 × 393 mm field from the brochure. The brochure lists a wide angle cap frame (360 × 82 mm, marked garment dependent) and a conventional cap frame (152 × 70 mm). Melco's package list says a cap driver and 2 frames are included without naming them; only the wide angle frame is marked included here. The package list also says a hoop bundle is included, but Melco gives no sizes, so no small flat hoops are listed. Melco's Fast Clamp Pro is an adjustable clamp for narrow items with no fixed size, so it is not listed. Melco's brochure does not list file formats. DesignShop 12, which comes with the machine, supports DST and EXP among others, and Melco's own OFM format saves wireframe, machine settings and colors, so those three are listed. Design memory depends on the hard drive and the brochure gives a 500k maximum file size. Ethernet is filed under cable. Melco gives no launch year, no screen size and no built-in design or font counts, so those fields are empty. Weight is the machine without the cart. Melco does not post a price; no US dealer page with a price could be opened, so no price range is given. Melco lists no direct predecessor or successor for this machine.

How the EMT16X compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery area of the Melco EMT16X?

Melco's spec table lists a maximum sew field of 16.1 × 15.5 in (410 × 393 mm). The optional XL hoop is the frame made to use that large field, for jobs such as full jacket backs and blankets.

How much does the Melco EMT16X cost?

Melco does not post a price. Its page asks buyers to contact a representative for a consultation and a price estimate, and the cost depends on how many heads and accessories you add, so no range is given here.

Can the Melco EMT16X embroider hats?

Yes. Melco puts a cap driver and frame kit in the package, and its wide angle cap frame is 14.1 × 3.25 in (360 × 82 mm) with a 270 degree sew field. Caps sew at up to 1,200 stitches per minute.

How many needles and how fast is the Melco EMT16X?

It has 16 needles. Melco lists 300 to 1,500 stitches per minute on flat goods and 300 to 1,200 on caps, with Acti-Feed automatic thread tensioning.

Does the Melco EMT16X come with digitizing software?

Melco lists DesignShop 12 as included. It supports DST and EXP files as well as Melco's own OFM format, and the machine is run from the computer-based Melco OS.

Sources

Specs come from Melco's own pages and manuals, checked October 2026. Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. We are not affiliated with Melco. See how we research.