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Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

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Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

#1

Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

Dave Belser

I'm working on a lathe conversion / update. I was all set to move forward with purchasing a 1 1/2 HP 3 phase motor and VFD when a 2 1/2 HP DC motor from a treadmill fell into my hands.

At first blush, the treadmill motor looks small even though it's rated at 2 1/2 HP. It is a DC with super magnets etc. etc. etc. It would have to be continuous duty as the treadmill is of course continuous duty. It's variable speed and the speed control comes with it (out of the treadmill). It's also free. It has a flywheel with a fan blades for cooling, so there might be an issue with cooling.

I imagine it's pretty close the kind of motor one finds in a variable speed mini-lathe, not a larger lathe.

So any thoughts? What am I missing?

If this sort of motor was appropriate for a 2 1/2 HP lathe, I'd assume I would have seen a lager lathe on the market with this kind of drive.

-D

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

#2

I've been told very low torque at low rpm


Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

#3

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a l

K Vaughan

Treadmill control logic is always to start at zero. Makes sense for a treadmill not to start anywhere else.

For a lathe starting from zero every time you stop to check something and have to reset the speed gets tiring.

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

#4

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a l

Josh Bowman

For free, give it a try. But I agree at low speeds torque is very weak on the one I have. I have one that I wanted to use in another project, but found getting the speed low enough was another issue. 5900 rpm is a big jump down to 1000 rpm. But can be done. Good luck.

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

#5

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a l

john lucas

My treadmill starts at 3mph and I have to turn it down for the kids.

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

#6

Re: A video by someone who did this *LINK*

Dave Paine

I have no connection to this YouTube channel, just passing on in case this helps.

I also have no personal experience in using DC motors on a wood lathe.

Larry, aka Arkansas Woodturner got a bigger Grizzly lathe some months after doing the DC motor upgrade.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzmY-UDWay0

Re: Thoughts on using treadmill motor to power a lathe

#7

Thanks everyone

Dave Belser

After some more research, I'm probably going to stick with a 3P motor and VFD drive. I might use the treadmill motor for a smaller lathe that currently uses step pulleys.

-Dave