REVLO-electric-motor-speed-controller

[Winemaker]

Have been thinking of fitting a variable speed control to my Record lathe. I have looked in to the Speed Genie and the Record conversions a bit too pricey for me also they show you have to change the motor ( I wonder why ?) as mine is not very old as it was changed just before I brought when it was made into a four speed. Has any one tried the REVLO-electric-motor-speed-controller, are they worth trying not being an electrician I do not know if it would do any damage to lathe? If you use one what gear do I leave it in or does that not matter?
Many thanks Tom

 

[Buckeye]

I have got one, I bought it to slow down my metal lathe, but reading the instructions it says "Continuous very slow speed may overheat motor". I tried it and it doesn't reduce the speed by much on my lathe, so not worth the risk to me for the lathe. I tried it on a big power drill and it lowers the speed quite significantly, but I never run it at it's lowest speed, but being able to slow it to go through engineering brick much easier is a bonus. It's not a lot of money, but I wouldn't risk my lathe motors with it as a long term solution.

Save for a proper kit, you will never be without it once you have had it. Speak to Woody I think he got one for his record. Variable speed, reverse, slow start, fast stop lots to recommend it.

Peter

 

[Grump]

Without going into all the physics of it , just take it as read that a motor is designed to work at a specific speed.
Hence the need to change motor for one that is designed to be variable.
The best and most reliable way to change your motor speed is through gears maintaining the correct motor speed reducing wear and saving burn out.
There are many PWM modules available but unless they are designed for the motor they are being used on they are at best poor.

 

[Bluefoxy]

You need to change the motor for 2 reasons. The shaft diameter on the record motors is non standard and the speed genie needs a 3 phase motor. The best advice is to save up and buy the speed genie. You will not regret it.

Ray

 

[Terry]

Tom if you read the technical specification on the Revlo it says that it will only work on motors that have brushes and not on induction motors. Therefore as the majority of lathes have induction motors ie brushless then it will not work. It will work on drilling machines and routers etc as they have motors that have brushes in them but unfortunately not lathes !!!!

 

[silver]

Don't wast your money on the PWM speed controller, I understand that they regulate the Voltage and not the Hertz and only work on motors with brushes so won't work on induction motors and you don't get the torque as you would expect.

The speed Genie is a good unit, (only what I am told) many would say there are others. I had the Newton Tesla one and that in my opinion was very good and never had any problems.

I have an old Variac unit that works quite well, but again that only controls the voltage so not that good if you want the power with it as well.

My Variac has a multitude of uses but I wouldn't buy one for a lathe speed controller, i only happened to have it as that was the only way of controlling speed. It was my dads originally. Built big, and sturdy.

Ray is right about the 3 phase..

 

[Winemaker]

Many thanks will have to leave that for now and just keep on changing manually.May save up for smaller lathe that has variable speed then sell my other one to recoup the money.

 

[turnaround360]

Posted this subject a while ago and they not only burn motors but they dont sell them anymore .

 

[Woody]

I have fitted a speed genee on both of my record lathes as Ray said you need a 3 phase motor and inverter which is what the speed genee is personally I would go for the speed genee rather than a small V/S lathe in the long run that would be the cheapest option and you retain the power on your lathe

 

[Buckeye]

Posted this subject a while ago and they not only burn motors but they dont sell them anymore .

They are still being sold, at least you can pay for one. REVLO-electric-motor-speed-controller

Peter

 

[turnaround360]

They were giving money back last
But i bought an inverter just need to sort ot out
But need Terry to explain delta before i atemt it
Because he is the man for electrics are you not
Sir

 

[Buckeye]

They were giving money back last
But i bought an inverter just need to sort ot out
But need Terry to explain delta before i atemt it
Because he is the man for electrics are you not
Sir

The people on Ebay, maybe the same people, would have given me my money back as when I bought it as it said nothing about damaging the motor if run at low speed for extended periods, in the end I couldn't be bothered to pack it up and send it back, it still gets used with the drill on occasion.

Peter

 

[Terry]

They were giving money back last
But i bought an inverter just need to sort ot out
But need Terry to explain delta before i atemt it
Because he is the man for electrics are you not
Sir

3 phase dual voltage motors can be wired in delta for 220 volts 3 phase which is what you need when fitting an inverter for lathe use or 415 volts 3 phase star connection for standard 3 phase connection which you don't want.
Normally the nameplate on the motor will give you both sets of connections in drawing form to help you. If the nameplate doesn't show the connections try Googling 220 volt 3 phase delta connections and see what happens. If you have problems Ray then pm me and I'll post a drawing to you !!!

 

[Penpal]

One of the main reasons for normal motors to suffer when slowed down if a lot of heavy cutting on the lathe the loading causes overheating, located on the end of the shaft is a fan often this fan is useless at low speed. So many three phase motors can not be readily changed to Delta running without stripping the motor and locating the field connections best left to an expert. I came to grief with a Delta wound motor recently burnt it out all that glitters is no guarantee of success. Using a VFD variable frequency device is great but if left unused for any great length of time can blow up on starting the capacitors in the unit to give the false phases can fail with a bang. THere is no free lunch in motor speed control. Fortunately Terry is in the UK and can give the gen necessary at this time it is a need for you to weigh up cost v quality. Talk to Mark in Aus he has just been though the mill with his speed controller.

All the best mate.

Peter.