On/off Switch for Lathe

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Ryan McMullen - Memphis

>Well, not my idea, but it is on the lathe I am using right now. I have Chucks old Buffalo lathe, and when he had to remount the motor (old hinges broke) he took the opportunity to move the switch. A length of extension cord was added between the switch and the motor so now the switch can be positioned as far away as the tail stock. To hold the switch to the lathe stand he put a couple of metal straps on the side, then expoxied or glued a rare earth magnent (from an old computer hard drive) to the back of the junction box that now has the switch it. So if I'm working on a long piece I can move the switch to where I'm working and don't have to worry about having to reach for it.

Another solution that I have read is to use a power strip that has an on/off switch on it. Plug the power strip into the wall then the lath into the powerstrip. with the power strip at the tail stock side of the lathe it give you two places to turn the lathe off.

Ryan

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

William-Bethlehem

>Thanks Ryan,

Hollowing is where I could really use a switch close to me.

I thought about the power strip idea, which isn't bad and I may employ that until I figure something out.

I don't know, I may opt to buy the footswitch afterall. I have some outlets/switches and wire laying around and my mind went to work wondering if I could come up with something.

William

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Wouldn't care for a foot switch, guaranteed to get lost in the shavings or, if of the deadman flavor, keep me stationary while turning which I never am. You aught to be able to rig a mushroom kill switch on a moveable box with magnet pretty easily. I use a remote on-off switch that I move at will with a magnet, but safetywise all you need is the kill button.

Mark Mandell

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Phil Joines Krum, Texas

>We have magnetic switches (from Grizzly) at the tail end of our full size lathes. I find myself using it more than the controller mounted switch because it's closer to where I usually stand. I think a foot switch would get buried in the shavings.

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Peter Teubel

>All my lathes (except my DVR) have switches at both the headstock and tailstock areas. I simply clipped the lathe's power plug and wired via two switches back to the plug Which just plugs in the wall socket. Now both switches must be in the "ON" position to power up. Either one will shut it down.

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

adrien

>Do these on-off switches interfere at all with the electronics in the lathes with variable speed? It would be like pulling the plug rather than using the standard power switch.

There must be some reason General charges $180 for a remote switch on their VD lathes.?????

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Whit

>On my Nova DVR on a shop-built stand,the power cord comes from the wall, though an On-Off toggle switch and outlet at the tailstock end (in case things get too entertaining and I don't want to reach through the plane of rotation), then wired to the headstock end where there's another outlet into which the lathe and other stuff, such as a sander, is plugged

Whit

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Peter Teubel

>Putting a remote switch is just like unplugging the lathe while is running. Unless the instructions specifically warn against it, there shouldn't be a problem. The only reason I don't have one on my DVR is because it would reset the starting speed once powered on again. Since it take so long to change speeds with that lathe (hey, I'm a production turners and seconds count (grin)), I'd rather avoid it if possible.

On my big lathe, I have ONLY a remote switch/control with all the controls on it, so there's no need for another.

BTW, all my "remote switches" are simply everyday-you-seen-them-once-you-seen-them-all-garden-variety light switches (with the proper rating, of course).

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Peter Teubel

>adrien wrote:

"There must be some reason General charges $180 for a remote switch on their VD lathes.????? "

====================================

Probably, like most other manufacturers, its because there is a high profit margin for accessories. A friend of mine works at CompUSA and said their profit margin for computers is just about nil. They make their money from the accessories they sell WITH the computer.

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

walta100

>This is not how I planned to share this with my fellow DVR owners but since it has come up in this thread and I have put it off for too long now, so I will post it here.

Even before I bought my Nova DVR, the small and non-descript stop button seemed to me to be a weak spot on a machine with great features for its price. So I thought, no problem, I�ll just wire up safety switches to the 120 VAC input. Only after I got it home did I notice that when running, if you switch off the power, the lathe continues to run for several seconds.

Call me chicken, but I want to be out of the line fire when I push the start button. I decided to try adding extra switches to the lathe. I got out my ohm meter found the key pad is wired as shown in this fig 1 right side. I decided to keep it simple and have 2 remote functions: start and stop.

I made a small circuit board that plugs in-between the key pad and the interface board. This way, no permanent changes have been made to the lathe. From this board, 4 new wires run to the new buttons. See fig 1, left side. This has worked well for me, for over a year now.

For switches, I used arcade video game buttons. They are large, colorful, cheap, and indestructible. Mount them on a vertical surface so they do not fill with chips. I installed red stop buttons on both ends of my lathe. I turned a guard for the start button from an old pill bottle.

Now for the downsides:

1. If the start button were to become stuck, the lathe will start. When you press stop, it will only stop for a second then restart. In short, the lathe could start unexpectedly!

2. If the stop button were to become stuck, the lathe�s display will freeze at whatever is on the display and will not change until the button is released. If the stop switch is stuck, at power up the lathe will appear dead. It is very disconcerting to think the electronics in your lathe could have shot craps even for a few moments.

3. Certainly this would void your 1 year electronics warranty.

4. I have no way to know how well this circuit is isolated from the high voltage circuit. The voltages are low while the lathe is operating normally, however should something fail, how high a voltage you could be exposed to is anybody�s guess.

While I find this modification very convenient, it be could a dangerous thing to do to your lathe. So weigh the risks and the benefits for yourself. Feel free to email me if you need help with the schematics or parts.

Walter Ahlgrim

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Peter Teubel

>I have no problem hacking basic electronics, but I was simply too busy (lazy?) to bother with it. Thanks to your initiative, I think I will hack a complete remote "console" (minus display). Can you send me a full size pic of your diagram? The one posted is too fuzzy when enlarged to see any detail. TIA!

Now if I could only install a speed control DIAL to change speeds instantly, I'd be in heaven...

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

walta100

>I have used a lathe with a pot for speed control 270 degrees of rotation 0-3500 RPM. Just look at the knob and it�s going 200 RPM faster. Most other lathes use there belt to reduce the sensitivity. While I hate waiting for the DVR it was scary as hell to hold me breath and twist that knob and hope the blank stayed on the lathe.

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Guy

>I use a metal switchbox from Lowes with a lightswitch and my variable speed knob mounted also. I have an old speaker magnet hooked up to the back of the box with about 8 feet of cable. My switch/speed controller can be placed anywhere there is metal (the whole lathe). Very convenient. The idea of having a cutoff switch in line with the power wire is a very good safety idea, had it on my old lathe, just haven't gotten around to doing that on this one. Be safe, Guy

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Whit

>Peter,

The tailstock end switch on my DVR is my "Panic Button." I only use it when bad things are happening at the other end. When that's the case, I don't begrudge the 10 or so seconds to reset the speed. I'll be spending more time than that dealing with the problem, anyway.

Whit

Re: On/off Switch for Lathe

Peter Teubel

>Hmmm...I never though of that. 0-3500 in one sweep of the dial. That WOULD make fine tuning the speed a tad touchy.