TomServo
Member
I started a new thread for this instead of continuing to hijack the jet mini VS thread - I bought a treadmill motor from surplus center and the 8 amp controller. Today I had a chance to install it with my Taig lathe... pictures ensue..
One note - I am not done installing it - i'm going to use some 1/4" plywood to enclose the motor and provide somewhere to mount a small fan. The motor came with a heavy cast steel flywheel with a fan built in but i decided it was simply too dangerous to use this way..
On to the testing! I tossed an ebony blank on my mandrel and turned it round - the motor runs great! the torque with the motor spinning below ~250 RPM is a bit wimpy, but we're talking a spindle speed of about 90 RPM. I wish I had some way to measure the spindle speed accurately. Something to note, in my setup I spin the motor CCW (it's a CW motor), which should not be a problem with DC motors, but to get it to start spinning 'backwards' I have to turn it on, and slowly turn the speed knob from slow to fast, then it starts right up. Not a big deal, and frankly, is probably a Good Thing for safety. No oops-I-bumped-the-switch spontaneous startups. More tommorow when I've actually turned a full pen with it.
Front view: I used a light switch for power on/off control. I bought the 5k potentiometer at radio shock.. Fwd/Rev switch will be forthcoming, when I find my toggle switch
Top/side view: I put a spring to add extra tension. The motor is mounted on a piece of plywood (well, two pieces of 1/4" epoxied together) and the plywood is hinged for easy belt changes. The hinge pin is a removable type, and I will mount another half hinge behind the lathe bed so I can reverse the headstock to turn a bowl.
One note - I am not done installing it - i'm going to use some 1/4" plywood to enclose the motor and provide somewhere to mount a small fan. The motor came with a heavy cast steel flywheel with a fan built in but i decided it was simply too dangerous to use this way..
On to the testing! I tossed an ebony blank on my mandrel and turned it round - the motor runs great! the torque with the motor spinning below ~250 RPM is a bit wimpy, but we're talking a spindle speed of about 90 RPM. I wish I had some way to measure the spindle speed accurately. Something to note, in my setup I spin the motor CCW (it's a CW motor), which should not be a problem with DC motors, but to get it to start spinning 'backwards' I have to turn it on, and slowly turn the speed knob from slow to fast, then it starts right up. Not a big deal, and frankly, is probably a Good Thing for safety. No oops-I-bumped-the-switch spontaneous startups. More tommorow when I've actually turned a full pen with it.
Front view: I used a light switch for power on/off control. I bought the 5k potentiometer at radio shock.. Fwd/Rev switch will be forthcoming, when I find my toggle switch
Top/side view: I put a spring to add extra tension. The motor is mounted on a piece of plywood (well, two pieces of 1/4" epoxied together) and the plywood is hinged for easy belt changes. The hinge pin is a removable type, and I will mount another half hinge behind the lathe bed so I can reverse the headstock to turn a bowl.