Motor for Flexispeed Lathe

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Hello. I have just been given a Flexispeed Meteor 2 lathe that lacks a motor. I have considered a number of different motors and like the idea of a 12 volt motor, due to the size and low voltage.

I have found the following on E-bay. Is it likely to be suitable?

**LINK**

Thank you.

James

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi James,
I think that motor is much too small.

Les.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Something like THIS would probably do the job. I used one out of an old Shurflo shower unit for a small 3 1/2" gauge loco and at 80- watts it can pull me around. Recovered motors from showers will probably need a new front bearing, easily fitted and a couple of quid from Arc Euro.

They have ~7-8 amp stall current so get a supply that can easily deliver that and use a 10A fuse in teh low voltage supply.

Neil

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Thank you both for your replies. I shall have a look at the shower motors to see what I can find., I have also just seen a lathe motor from, I think, a Warco lathe, together with the controller on e-bay which may be worth looking at in more detail.

James.

[UJ NewtonParticipant @ujnewton33659]

I ve got a Flexispeed horizontal mill and an older singer sewing machine motor(1 kw approx) I assume then they would also pair up?

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

What! 1 kW is well over a horsepower, must have been quite a sewing machine…was it an industrial one. Domestic sewing machine are usually the size of a drinks can, can't be more than 1/8 HP or so which is less than 100W.

[UJ NewtonParticipant @ujnewton33659]

Ah .yes..100 w it is!

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Still looking around for a motor for my little Flexispeed, I came across this on e-bay. It is 120 watts / 0.16 HP and looks pretty substantial and has quite low revs at 1,370rpm, unlike some motors that I have seen.

Is this likely to be suitable?

Regards,

James.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Probably!

Bear in mind that it won't have much torque at low speeds, although PWM drive will help.

Neil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

At the moment my Super Adept lathe has a 180Watt shaded pole motor, had a sewing machine motor on it, but burned out the armature. I'v got a 1/15th hp 3ph motor that will run with a capacitor across it that I would like to try at some time.

Ian S C

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

James,

I share your pain! I recorded some of my tribulations with a Flexispeed here. I was hoping to find a nice compact motor. It looks like the standard spec was for a 1/4 HP induction motor and my pulleys are sized for an M/Z type belt which can transfer quite a bit of power. I ended up using an old washing motor which is, I suspect, 1/6HP (no markings on it). As I think you're aware, the maximum speed for the lathe spindle is 1000 so the countershaft needs to be going at about 500rpm. Sadly, modern fractional HP motors all seem to come in the same (large) sized frame.

Good luck,

Rod

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

James,

Especially if you are still interested in using low voltage:

… this sort of thing looks promising.

MichaelG.

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

I ended up using an old washing motor which is, I suspect, 1/6HP (no markings on it). As I think you're aware, the maximum speed for the lathe spindle is 1000 so the countershaft needs to be going at about 500rpm.

Rod,

Thank you for th elink to your lathe. It was actually that which brought me to this site in the first place. Is the 1/6 HP motor that you have fitted proving adequate? If so, I shall just buy one of those in my last link and give it a try.

Regards,

James.

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

I bit the bullet in the end and have bought on of the 120 watts / 0.16 HP 1,370rpm motors off from E-bay (£20 for a best offer). Just need to sort out a belt, pulleys and countershaft.

Regards,

James.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by James Alford on 10/01/2015 08:53:19:

I bit the bullet in the end and have bought on of the 120 watts / 0.16 HP 1,370rpm motors off from E-bay

.

James,

For reference: Could you please give us a link to that listing.

Thanks

MichaelG.

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Michael,

Certainly: I thought that I had, but clearly did not do so.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELECTRIC-MOTOR-MY631-4-CAP-RUN-SINGLE-PHASE-240V-0-12KW-0-16HP-/121527068022?ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:GB:3160

Regards,

James.

[James AParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Michael,

Here it is as an actual link.

**LINK**

Regards,

James.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I think most washing machines use a 1/4hp motor, although some use 1/3hp, I'm thinking of the old wringer type washing machines, they are usually 4 pole split phase motors, no capacitor start or run. The newer washing machines have some quite complex wiring.

Ian S C

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by James Alford on 10/01/2015 09:33:23:

Michael,

Certainly: I thought that I had, but clearly did not do so.

.

Many thanks, James

Much appreciated … it looks useful.

MichaelG.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Posted by James Alford on 10/01/2015 09:34:55:

Here it is as an actual link.

**LINK**

That looks lt's just the job and at a good price if you live near Clacton. Good find! My washing machine motor came from an old AEG twin tub and was unusual, compared to other washing machines I've dismantled, in having a capacitor and a complete enclosure rather than just an open frame.

In theory, one of these has the same power. I have one driving my milling spindle and it spins a 1/4" endmill at about 2,500 rpm. Bringing the countershaft speed down to 500 rpm is a bit tricky and I'm not convinced that it has as much torque as an induction motor. However, similar sorts of motor seem to drive Unimats OK.

Cheers,

Rod

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Do you think that 1/16 hp motor will be enough? I am thinking of a 1/4,or even 1/2 horse motor for my Simat 101 which is almost a copy of the flexispeed.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Mark P. on 10/01/2015 13:58:41:

Do you think that 1/16 hp motor will be enough?

.

Mark,

0.16 HP is rather more than 1/16

MichaelG.

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Oh yes I miss read it, nearly 1/4 hp.

[herbert punterParticipant @herbertpunter99795]

I have a Simat 101 to set up some time this year and I'm proposing to use the motor from one of these:

I think it would be ok for it.

**LINK**

Bert

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