could you use a variable speed electric motor for a power feed?

[Rod]

I was think I might add a a power feed to my manuel mill.I was wondering if and how a person would go about it.Should it be DC or AC? 

Should it run off a cable or a chain? 

I was thinking an electric motor would be the easyest and cheapest way to go,but I don't really know because I just now came up with the idea and I havent rally thought it out yet.

[wiam]

Rod,  I think any these will work.  There are a lot of variables.  I am pondering the same move.  I am mostly home so I am leaning AC, but then what if I go out?  My other thought is to put some hydraulics on the mill with a smaller engine for loader/turner/clamps and put a hydraulic motor on the feed.

Will

[Furby]

What if the AC gets wet
If there is any chance of that, it might be better to go with DC.

[Tom]

I think Hydraulic sounds to be the better home remedy.  A/C can light up your life.  D/C requires some electronics work with boards, diodes and switchs and a bunch of other fancy words.  Hydraulics is pretty straight forward.  You might want to use it to drive a belt so that something will slip and not tear the mill up though.

[Ironwood]

Tom,


 I am with you. Simple power pack and a valve, infinitely variable!!!KISS

                                 REID

[D._Frederick]

On my mill, I bought from Grainger a permanet magnet gearmotor with a SCR control module. I machined a capstan and use a 3/16 cable to pull the saw head back and forth. It pulls at about 80 lbs and has variable speed from 0 to 75 ft per min. both direction. Have used it for 10 years with NO problems.

[Jason_WI]

Check www.surpluscenter.com for DC gear motors and controllers.

Jason

[Rod]

i think the peterson has an electric motor they use .I wonder what kind i is?

I think the Hydraulic would take more power to run and cost alot more also.


D Frederick,where do you get the motor at?

[D._Frederick]

Rod,

I bought a new gear motor from WWGrainger, you also can get them from the Surplus Center

[Rod]

maybe something like this might work.its 6 rpm,just put a spool on the end of the shaft and wrap the cable around it a few times so it wont slip,and have some kind of switch to control the amps and driection and  I'd say I'd have a power feed.

But I still need somehing to conver AC to DC tho.

LINK


also the sale the stuff at 1/2 the list price

I picked DC because I thought it would be easyer to control the speed.

[SAW MILLER]

 I have been thinking about using a transaxle off of a riding mower.Power it with a dc motor and speed control and use reverse gear for forward,slower speed and 3rd or 4th gear for gig back. you would have nuetral and even a clutch with the idler plus the belt drive would give you some torque protection. If you used a flat belt and idler,couldn't you feather the feed rate like my old frick mill use to?Just a thought

[Furby]

Add the seat and you can ride along with it.

[mike_van]

You need to use DC to get variable speed.  Or a universal type AC with brushes. ie - drill motor.  You can't vary the speed of an AC motor with a rehostat, you are cutting the voltage by doing this, it will burn out in no time.  I use a 3/4 hp shunt wound DC motor w/ a right angle gear drive & roller chain.  The AC is run through an inverter sold by Grainger, about 175.00 these days.  I've used this set up for almost 15 years with no problems.  Another option I've thought of would be a hydrostatic drive from a garden tractor, you can run that from an ac motor & vary speed with the hydro.

[Rod]

Thats a god idea mike.I called Baldor and the guy said about the same thing you did.He told me the stuff that would work but it cost seems kind of high tho, for the gear drive motor and controller,$580 and they are inclosed and explonsen and water proof.

[Fla._Deadheader]

 We used a ¾ HP Baldor motor, although, a ½ HP would work fine if you don't require a dragback. We bought an electronic controller off Ebay, which works VERY well, and we used 2 pillow blocks for a jackshaft and chain drive. Crosswired a drum switch for forward and reverse and use a 10K potentiometer for speed control.

  We have cut over 100,000 bd/ft with very few problems, mostly mechanical (Ball Bearings going bad).

[Rod]

Fla._Deadheader ,would this motor work?

http://www.baldor.com/products/detail.asp?1=1&page=1&catalogonly=1&catalog=GP7304&product=Gear+Products&family=DC+Gear+Motors%7Cvw%5FGearProducts%5FDCGearMotors&rpm=6

[Rod]

forget the link,i cant get it to work

But aways its a Baldor Catalog Number:  GP7304 motor

[Fla._Deadheader]

 If it is the one you posted yesterday, I would think not. 1/8th HP is not that strong, even though it IS geared. Sometimes, the blade needs a little "help" going through a knot or hard spot in the log. ½ HP would be minimal in my opinion.

  We used a 2" pulley on the motor, and a 9" pulley on the jackshaft. It is slower on the gigback than I want, so, I am going to an 8" on the shaft.

  The motor and controller and drum switch would run aroung $500.00 NEW.

[D._Frederick]

Go back to Jason entery #6, you can get every thing you need for a DC drive from the Surplus Center for less than $400.

[Rod]

OK D,I'll check out that link again.

FlaDeadheader,should I look for a sertain amount of torque?