Can I safely do this?

[peteryu65]

Can I put this……..
http://www.woodcraft.com/images/family/web20138.jpg
Into this?
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?Offerings_ID=10760


I currently have a Jet mini lathe (JWL-10141) with a half horsepower, TEFC induction motor. However, I am really tired of slowing the lathe down when I have to do something like drill a hole or finish on the lathe. So, a few days ago, I ran in to a router speed control switch that controls the speed of routers up to 3 hp. I was wondering if I can use it for my lathe. As long as I keep it within a certain window of speed (ie not going to slow with the router control if my lathe is on top speed), can this be safely done? I really don’t have the budget to upgrade to the JWL-1014VSI model so this is probably as close as I will go with electronic speed control. Thanks!

Peter

 

[Mark Mandell]

If mermory serves, you can't use that controller with an induction motor. Routers are universal motors with brushes and thus can be controlled with the pot.

An induction motor needs a VFD which is a whole different thing.

[Not an EE nor playing one on TV]

mm

 

[KEW]

If mermory serves, you can't use that controller with an induction motor. Routers are universal motors with brushes and thus can be controlled with the pot.

An induction motor needs a VFD which is a whole different thing.

[Not an EE nor playing one on TV]

mm

What he said!

 

[GeorgeH]

Here's a forum link that might help you find a solution:

http://www.lmpforum.com/inforum/index.php

 

[paulspencer2001]

Motor

Penstate has a replacement Variable Speed Conversion Kit that can be installed on the jet midi lathe. I have the turncrafter pro from them and I put one on mine and love it. The instructions that come with the kit show hor to install it on the JET. http://www.pennstateind.com/store/tclvskit.html
also being sold on EBAY for $89.95 plus $16.17 shipping, search for Item #110215053555.

 

[robert davis]

No, You Canot

 

[Mark Mandell]

Penstate has a replacement Variable Speed Conversion Kit that can be installed on the jet midi lathe. I have the turncrafter pro from them and I put one on mine and love it. The instructions that come with the kit show hor to install it on the JET. http://www.pennstateind.com/store/tclvskit.html
also being sold on EBAY for $89.95 plus $16.17 shipping, search for Item #110215053555.

Paul,

Penn State says that the slowest speed with their kit is 650 rpm when low speed on the stock 6-speed machine is 500. I view the real value of VS is to get into the 2-300 range for out of balance blanks, so it seems that the PS kit is going in the wrong direction. Is the bottom speed on your machine actually 650? I ask because a friend asked me about helping him convert his JET mini for more speed range. We're considering both the VFD and the jack-shaft options. Since portability of the lathe is not an issue for him, remounting the induction motor hooked to a jack can give him several low speed range options without losing torque or high-end speed. A jack is pretty cheap to put together, but the VFD is sexier and so much easier to change speeds.

Thanks for the information.

mm

PS: Only problem here is that, so far, I haven't been able to locate or price an AC VF drive that takes 110, gives 110 for a 3/4hp single phase motor. If my friend has to buy a new motor as well, the electronic route is going to be too expensive.

 

[Bill Boehme]

...... and, furthermore,

.....considering that the low end torque on the Penn State DC speed control is wimpy, I would say it would be worth it only if you are turning small things where low speed torque is not important.

 

[Paul Engle]

Only on motors that use brushes can that type of speed control work, your
AC induction mtr will fry the contorl licketysplit.... VSD/VFD for AC is spendy, require matching to the motor and the combo would cost 400$ to 700$ for 3/4 - 1 hp ....

 

[Ken Grunke]

A few years ago I tried the router speed control out on a lathe of mine, using a universal AC/DC motor from a lawn mower. The motor was around 3000 RPM top speed if I remember correctly, so I used a large pulley on the lathe, small pulley on the motor.

Low end torque was not very impressive even with the pulley reduction, and it was very loud so that experiment didn't last very long.

A jackshaft and a noise-insulating housing (with cooling fan) would have made the setup more attractive. A lawn mower motor or treadmill motor might be worth a try for this speed control unit if you are low on funds and like to tinker.

 

[Al Neighbors]

I was thinking about giving PSI's conversion kit a try, til I read the speeds... I would only be gaining the ability to change speeds without changing the belt. My current slow speed on my VL100 is 689rpm... the slow speed on the PSI conversion kit is 600. That's not worth the hundred bucks to me.
If portability isn't a problem, seems like the jack shaft is the way to go. I need the portability, so I guess I'll stick to what I've got.

 

[Bill Turpin]

PSI kit is pretty good

I put this kit on my Fisch mini lathe. I was able to use original 5- step pully (±14.1 mm shaft). This gives me five speed ranges w/ the variable speed. Lowest speed is about 20 rpm. I like it, been used five hours daily since October. Took about 1.5 hours to install. If you buy this kit, be sure you make centering jigs before tearing apart old configuration.

Bill Turpin in WNC mountains