Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Loxton, SA
    Posts
    534

    Default Speed controller

    Does anyone use this type of device for controlling the speed of their lathe? What are the pros and cons please? Certainly seems like an inexpensive way to achieve variable speed.

    POWER REGULATOR, WOOD LATHE SPEED CONTROLLER on eBay (end time 13-Mar-10 17:47:02 GMT)

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    430

    Default Speed Controllers on lathe

    Hi rev,

    Yes I've had a CEG constant torque one HP motor and speed controller set for about 3 years. It's mounted on a TOUGH professional 1m bed lathe. Probably works 20 hours per week on average. I never change the pulleys just keep them on the third highest of the four available settings all the time. With the speed controller that pulley setting covers everything from slow slow for drilling things such as salt and pepper grinders to zoom zoom for spindles once rounded up. The motor appears to be truly torque constant regardless of speed. It gets pretty hot if one is working big spindles all day but I haven't had any problems at all. It just brilliant in my view and I greatly regret not having moved to this set up 30 years ago.The one HP power output (constant rated) motor appears quite adequate although I had a 2 1/2 HP motor before that I can only just lift. The original set up was greatly overpowered I'd say but it was what came with the machine new. I guess I just got used to turning far faster than was safe in the rounding up phase a lot of the time as I rarely changed belt position except for drilling.

    I haven't tried it for face plate work and bowls as I have a bowl lathe as a separate entity so I just don't know about sufficient power for big bowls in one HP. Should be OK I'd say.

    My advice would be to not spend time thinking about it: get straight on to it. About $800 for a single phase set up and about half of that for three phase as VSD's are very common in the industrial scene.

    Good Luck Old Pete

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Loxton, SA
    Posts
    534

    Default

    Thanks old pete.
    But I wonder if we are talking about the same sort of device, in view of the difference in prices. Did you buy a unit similar to this one (that appears to be essentially a rhiostat) and mount it to your single phase motor? Or did you buy a variable speed motor setup, the kind that Jim Carroll sells, and replace the previous motor on the lathe with it? Is Jim's setup essentially the same thing that is being sold here, but with an electric motor? Cheers.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,470

    Default

    "I guess I just got used to turning far faster than was safe in the rounding up phase a lot of the time as I rarely changed belt position except for drilling."
    old pete as you have noticed the more experieced you become the less you rely on speed change, most profesional woodturners only use about three speeds but more commonly it is just flat out and stop

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    430

    Default Variable speed drive

    Hi Rev,

    Yes my unit is a Carolls set up. The controller and the motor come as a unit. I don't think you can use your own motor. A Rheostat will not give constant torque. Cheers Old Pete

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    moonbi nsw Aus
    Age
    69
    Posts
    2,065

    Default

    I questioned my BIL ( an electronic engineer) about Variable speed for my lathe, hoping he would jump in and say "I'll knock you up a controller, no worries". But he shook his head and said that to vary the speed but keep the horse power you have to control the cycles NOT the voltage, as does a rheostat. The motor is different too in its windings he said. So its not, as I thought, just puting a rheostat in the line, its starting over (Bummer)
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Peakhurst
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1,173

    Default

    Rev,

    Only just caught this thread. That unit is a Kemo unit (Jaycar sell them). It is used for brush type motors. I think Batpig used one to control a Compound Mitre Saw. I don't think it's suitable for what you want.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    N.S.
    Posts
    252

    Default

    I doubt that this unit would be effective on a lathe. Can only be operated at 20% duty cycle at full output (6amps) and at 3amps at full duty cycle. Cannot be used on motors with centrifugal starting sw's. It is basically a juised up dimmer sw.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    547

    Default

    Steve is correct. The item shown is a voltage controller for use with universal wound motors (the ones that have brushes) like routers. It will NOT work with normal induction motors (no brushes, often have a starting capacitor, etc.). Similar units are sold in the U.S. as "router speed controllers".

    Variable speed lathe motors are either DC motors with control unit, or more commonly 3 phase AC motors with EVS/VFD control (insert EE techno-babble) unit that converts single phase AC input from the wall outlet in your shop into the required stuff for the motor. Hope that made sense.
    Richard in Wimberley

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Loxton, SA
    Posts
    534

    Default

    Thanks for all the comments...doesn't look like it is a goer

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Mandurah WA
    Age
    60
    Posts
    351

    Default

    Does that mean I could use something like this for my makita 3612 in a router table to give me variable speed?

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Childress, Texas, United States
    Age
    83
    Posts
    233

    Default

    This would also work very well, as the controller for that woodburner that's made from a battery charger. It would be beefier than a light/fan dimmer.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    547

    Default

    Stuffy, If your router motor has brushes it is a universal wound motor and the voltage controller device should work if it's current rating is equal or greater than that of your router motor.
    Richard in Wimberley

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    37 Deg, 52. 697' South 145 deg, 15.627' East. Elevation 78M
    Age
    71
    Posts
    1,410

    Default

    I would want more than a 600W output wouldn't even drive a 1HP motor.
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I´m not so sure about the universe.


  16. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Vic
    Posts
    201

    Default Gotta be tough

    Hi all,

    I'm not much of a fan of electronic controls in such a simple environment that one can get away with a cone drive, this is simply a vee belt pully that has an internal spring arrangement allowing the vee belt to move infinitely from smallest dia to largest by simply lifting or lowering the motor. I have used this config for over 20 years with no probs, just keep your tools sharp.

    Regards...oddjob1

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. speed controller
    By hoopy in forum ROUTING FORUM
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 13th November 2009, 06:26 AM
  2. Speed Controller
    By dj_pnevans in forum WOODTURNING - PEN TURNING
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 13th November 2008, 08:43 AM
  3. DeWalt Variable Speed Controller
    By kiwidadtomykidz in forum SCROLLERS FORUM
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 24th December 2005, 08:24 AM
  4. Light dimmer / speed controller
    By Cagey in forum ROUTING FORUM
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 22nd June 2005, 11:11 PM
  5. router add-on speed controller
    By Kevan in forum ROUTING FORUM
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 26th September 2000, 10:01 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •