Brother pe500 whats the biggest size this machine embroiders?

Which model machine is this? Do you know roughly how old it is? This is so I can check what setup it has and if I can find an owners manual for it for you.

Suspect uneven feed of top thread.

Manual for reference if needed.
https://www.brother-usa.com/-/media/brother/product-catalog-media/documents/2018/04/20/08/38/um_pc_8500_en_194.ashx


Please check the following;

• This machine has a horizontal spool. Try using a spool cap that is slightly larger than the spool. Verify spool is in proper orientation, and threaded per instruction. See page 19.
• Embroider foot "Q" is installed per manual instructions. See page 32-33.
• Feed dogs are down (supposed to happen when automatically table is installed but check and make sure).

There should be no looping of thread on bottom side. This would indicate top thread tension is too loose or uneven feed (spool cap and/or orientation). Suggest you preset tension prior to installing table using normal presser foot and single layer of same fabric and same thread. Select a straight short stitch (machine default) and tension 4. With a single layer of fabric, tension at 4 is likely high and you will see bottom thread loop on top side so slowly reduce tension until bottom thread no longer shows on top, Then switch to embroider setup and test run.

Comment below with results and I'll assist further if need be.

If the display reads "Check and rethread upper thread", follow the steps below to resolve the issue:
1. Upper thread may be broken.
2. Upper thread may be caught on the spool on top of the machine.
3. Upper thread spool may have run out of thread.
4. Replace the needle in the machine with a new needle.
5. Your needle could be bent or burred causing the thread to break.
6. Check that you are using the correct size thread.
- If embroidering, use 40/50 machine embroidery thread on top and 60 weight in bobbin only.
Turn your machine off and rethread the machine from the start.

According to this link, the machine will do both:

Difference between Brother PE500 amp HE1 sewing discussion topic...

However, remember that a machine that is specialized in one way or another is probably best used in that specialized function. Straight stitch function may not be as uniform.

you say it runs, is the needle going up and down or is just the motor running

I'm new to embroidering and mine did the same thing a few weeks ago. I discovered the buzzing sound was because the design I saved to the card was too large. I decreased the size and the design worked perfectly.

you may want to have the needle holder check to see if it needs
to be replaced.

Check your thread spool or spool keeper disk for a burr. It sounds exactly like it's getting caught on something like that.

I would try embroidering on a scrap of like material to get the tension you want. My Brother (different model) manual doesn't say any specific tension setting for embroidering but just says to set the tension right for the fabric to be worked. If the fabric is stretchy, I suggest using a little looser tension than say cotton, just make sure it doesn't pucker the fabric.

needle might not be fully pushed up in shaft, or wrong size bobbin is used