• The forum upgrades have been completed. These were moderate security fixes from our software vendor and it looks like everything is working well. If you see any problems please post in the Forum Technical Support forum or email us at forum_moderator (at) aawforum.org. Thank you
  • It's time to cast your vote in the March 2026 Turning Challenge. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Chris Lawrence for "Dragon's Grip" being selected as Turning of the Week for March 30, 2026 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Overhead drive and motor

Bob Franklin

Bob Franklin

Joined
Apr 1, 2017
Messages
47
Likes
371
Location
Thornton, Colorado
Can some of you share pics of your DIY overhead drive setups , I'm getting close to being ready to build one and would like ideas. Also I am considering using a 500w variable speed Rattmotor and wonder if any of you have experience with that and just how well it works with the overhead drive and / Or I would love feed back if there are reasons why thats a bad idea. My current drive the motor is mounted on the carbide cutter assembly and i am having a UCF built and would like to keep that 1/5hp motor on the current set up that way and have that as an option to still use .
 
Hi Bob -- I don't know if you found my article from the journal, but I wrote about how to Build an Overhead Drive, back in Spring of 2008, shortly after the MDF rose engine articles came out. The simplicity of the notches in the crane arm of that design allow you to use the weight of the motor to adjust belt tension, without any fiddly hardware. KISS. ;)

I have a 500w Rattmotor brushless motor that I'm using for something else, but it should work fine for an overhead drive. I have used Jet lathe retrofit motors, and Sherline motors in the past.

Others have used servo motors for sewing machines successfully too. Search Amazon for "sewing machine servo motor" and you'll find lots of options.

If you're just getting started, you might find a gem or two in the rest of my articles, on my website under the Ornamental Obsessions tab.

Cheers,
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top