Thread: External variable speed switch - Possible?

Damien,
Timbecon in WA have released an external speed adjuster for routers
Its $99 though and says supplies may not be available till mid year.

You bloody beauty! Wheel in the speed while standing at bench and I don't have to cough up the dough for 3612 C? Yeeeehhhhaaaaa.....

At least now I know it's possible...

Thanks!

Damien

Slow down a bit chaps, (pun) extrnal variable speed devices arent the be all and end all.

Most of the new variable speed powertools have some sofistication about the electronics to provide soft start, maintain torque and some "regulate" speed.

All the external speed controlls for universal motors ( hand held powertools with armiture brushes) do is reduce the average voltage to the motor to controll the speed. This is done by manipulating the Ac wave form fairly crudely. They are basicaly a light dimmer with a few mods.

The result is that as you reduce the speed the torque and power of the unit will reduce considerably and at very low speeds the motor may not comutate correctly.
It is posible to damage a tool by loading it too much under reduced speed.

Speed regulation with large cutters is an issue, turn the speed down to the approprite speed for the cutter. When you load it up the speed may reduce dramaticaly ( lack of torque and power) if you the turn up the speed under load the cutter may exceed it rated speed when the unit unloads.

It is posible to build such a device with soft start, but I dont think the other features are posible.

xternal variable speed device have been round for many years and work fine as long as you know their limitations, but they arent the same as a current generation in machine speed controll.

cheers

Awwww bugger!