Remote switch

Re: Remote switch

Bill Howatt

I have a General 26020 VFD lathe and made a remote switch speed control for it quite a while ago. I don't know about the Oneway switch but I'll caution you that (at least on my 26020) the ON/OFF pushbuttons on the pedestal have the 240VAC line voltage connected to them - not a low control voltage. These switches actuate a relay in lathe that switches the control voltage from the VFD on and off.

I elected not to extend the wires to the switches to my remote box because of the voltage so I made some mods.

Bill

Re: Remote switch

mikeee12345

The best remote emergency switch would run off of two inputs, one sensor would identify how far your eyes open up and another sensor would identify when your sphincter clenches down. :-)

By installing a low voltage relay you can easily control your line voltage controls with a low voltage pendant. Your low voltage control powers a coil on a relay that has sets of contacts that open and close your line voltage control circuit.

Another option is a piezo powered remote E-stop button that will operate a relay that shuts power off to your circuit. I have installed a couple of these in area's that were difficult to run conduit & wire. The pushbutton E-stop is mounted in a small enclosure that can be carried with you or mounted on the machine. When the button is pressed a piezo crystal produces a signal that is picked up by the remote relay which is mounted inside your machine control enclosure wired into the control wiring. The relay senses the E-stop signal and opens or closes the circuit and either starts or starts the machine circuit.

Square-D Telemechanique makes this Remote E-Stop System.

If you are electronics/electrical nerd you could easily use a garage door opener and controller to do the same thing if you wired it to a relay controlling the power to your lathe.

I Should Have Been More Specific

Bill Howatt

As I said above, I didn't run the 240V lines to my remote box but I did make a relay box and ran low-voltage wire to my remote box to control the 240V via the relay.

I moved the General's Stop/Start pushbutton assembly, now controlling the relay low-voltage circuit, to my remote box which also has the speed control pot in it. I consider having the speed control pot near the start button a safety feature because you can readily see the speed setting before you hit start.

My intent was to not modify the lathe itself any more than necessary. What I did was only one way to approach the problem and it could probably be done with just adding a remote box with the stop/start switches acting directly with the VFD and its control voltages.

Bill

Re: Remote switch

Dennis in Southern Oregon

Keith, are you looking for a PANIC switch to stop the lathe or a convenience switch to start and stop the motor?

Re: Remote switch

lyle Jamieson

I modified a general 260 many years ago by taking the existing box out of the headstock tower and moving the whole thing down on the tailstock end, where it belongs. No need for remote, just bolt it on the bed.

Re: Remote switch

Keith T

Thanks everyone! Lyle has the idea I'm looking for...General made a remote but I can't seem to find one. I don't like reaching across a turning to change speed or turn on/off.

Re: Remote switch

john lucas

Keith I am planning to move my entire speed control module on my Powermatic to a separate box. All it has is an on/off switch and the speed control knob. I'm just going to remove the panel that holds those two and add a longer wire and then mount that panel on a PVC box that I already bought to do that. I just haven't had time to go get the wire and a big magnet to put on the box.

Re: Remote switch

Keith T

Thanks John, might be the easiest way!

General International?

Bill Howatt

I certainly won't be money on this but I think that the remotes were for some of the General International machines which were made offshore not for the Canadian made Generals.

You can just get a box, I used one of those gray plastic electrical boxes because they are easy to drill, and extend the various lines to them such as the on/off and the speed potentiometer. On my lathe the speed pot was very obstinate for removing and I don't think it was ideal for mounting in the box so I just bought a new one at an electronics supply store - if you do this, get a good quality pot.

Remember, if your lathe is like mine the pushbuttons have 240V on them so use good quality cable rated for that voltage and be careful on how you do the physical wiring with strain-relief, etc.

I mounted my gray box on a wood base that had a projection that located in the gap in the bed ways. This way it was quite secure and easily moved along the bed depending on the nature of the turning but you can go the magnet route or whatever you like.

Bill

Re: Remote switch

Ric Taylor

That's what I did, the box has magnets on the bottom so I can put it anywhere on my lathe.

Re: General International?

Keith T

You guys are the best!

Re: Remote switch

George Guadiane

Did you buy that ready made of make it yourself?

Can you source the parts for us?

Re: Remote switch

Ric Taylor

George, no it was not ready made. I'm not really good with either mechanics or electronics, but I had great help from my friend Clyde Collier.

We moved the switch assembly out of the headstock and put it in a plastic electrical box available at places like Home Depot, and painted the box with Powermatic paint. Then I made a cover to close over the opening that was left on the headstock. Magnets were screwed on to the bottom of the box.

There is a lot of information available on the Mustard Monster website.

https://mustardmonster.weebly.com/

Re: Remote switch

John Spitters

I just removed the whole switch assembly from the headstock rewired it with about a 10 ft. Length of cable and put it into a grey plastic outdoor electrical box that has a rubber seal to keep out moisture (and dust)

Screwed some rare earth magnets to the backside of the box.