Speed Control for Variable Speed Motor/Winder

[jrdamien]

Can any of you wizards help me reason this out? I just picked up a new mini lathe to replace my old winder. It has a 110v 0-3800 rpm variable speed motor with an on-board speed control. I want to add a foot pedal to control the speed. Before I crack it open, start inventing solutions and building them, can anyone see any trouble in just using something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VV4SDS/...I1622XZL81NC32

Just an off the shelf rheostat. I'd just turn the controller on the lathe to the highest setting and use this pedal to control it from there. Any obvious potential troubles?

[Jazz P Bass]

That pedal that you linked to is for a Vac application.

Is that what you are aiming at?

Control the voltage to the mini-lathe?

Personally, I think you would be better off duplicating the existing potentiometer that is in the controller.

[John_H]

Does the motor on the lathe have brushes, or is it an induction motor?

[jrdamien]

That pedal that you linked to is for a Vac application.

Is that what you are aiming at?

Control the voltage to the mini-lathe?

Personally, I think you would be better off duplicating the existing potentiometer that is in the controller.

Not necessarily what I'm going for, just a possible easy solution.

Duplicating the existing pot would work, but getting it into a functioning pedal would be my limitation.

[jrdamien]

Does the motor on the lathe have brushes, or is it an induction motor?

I don't know. Don't have it yet and couldn't tell from pics.

[salvarsan]

I don't know. Don't have it yet and couldn't tell from pics.

If it's a Chinese mini-lathe, it's most likely a DC motor with a PWM controller.
As Jazz P Bass said, you can open up the controller box and fiddle with the speed pot.

-drh

[Jazz P Bass]

I don't know. Don't have it yet and couldn't tell from pics.

Please provide a link or a picture.

[jrdamien]

Please provide a link or a picture.

[John_H]

found this>PSI Woodworking PENPAL Portable 15-Pound Mini Penmaking Lathe | Machine Tools For Metal And Woods
It says it has a 110v AC motor.

[jrdamien]

That's the one.

[Jazz P Bass]

found this>PSI Woodworking PENPAL Portable 15-Pound Mini Penmaking Lathe | Machine Tools For Metal And Woods
It says it has a 110v AC motor.

No, it says "1/5HP 110V Variable Speed Motor "

AC motors are harder to contol than DC motors (controller circuit wise)

My bet is that they used a DC motor.

The OP will be best off waiting intil the unit arrives.

Open the controller & measure the pot for value & taper.

A beatup Wah pedal is the cheapest route.

Them again it all comes down to the controller.
Is it DC?
What pot is in it?

Can o worms.

[jrdamien]

No, it says "1/5HP 110V Variable Speed Motor "

AC motors are harder to contol than DC motors (controller circuit wise)

My bet is that they used a DC motor.

The OP will be best off waiting intil the unit arrives.

Open the controller & measure the pot for value & taper.

A beatup Wah pedal is the cheapest route.

Them again it all comes down to the controller.
Is it DC?
What pot is in it?

Can o worms.

I will wait. BUT, assuming it's a dc motor with a 10k pot, can I replace this pot with a shorting jack and run a cord to an old wah pedal with the circuitry removed and a correct value pot in place?

[Jazz P Bass]

You really do need to see what's in there.

It may be possible to leave the controller alone & simply parallel a pot on top of it.

[John_H]

No, it says "1/5HP 110V Variable Speed Motor "

Indeed it does. I'm sorry.

The OP will be best off waiting intil the unit arrives.

yup

[rjb]

I don't know if this will help you or not.
Step 5 shows how to readjust the speed range of a Harbor Freight mini lathe.
Pro quality pickup winder - 3000+ RPM pickup winder with Tach, Counter and autostop