By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
Forum sponsored by:
Forum sponsored by Forum House Ad Zone

Bandsaw speed control

All Topics | Latest Posts

Search for:  in Thread Title in  
Speedy Builder507/03/2010 19:00:48
2878 forum posts
248 photos
I have a Dewalt wood bandsaw which saws at 330 meters/min, and would like to slow it down to about 30m/min for use with a metal cutting blade.
 
The motor runs at 2830 rpm (230v 3.4amp or 0.56kw)  Commercial speed reducers are very expensive.  Has anyone got plans for a home made electronic speed controller?
 
There isn't much room to put additional pulley stages onto the saw, or alter the existing pulley arrangements.
Jeff Dayman07/03/2010 19:37:02
2356 forum posts
47 photos
If you do make an electronic controller and get the speed down far enough, you will not likely have enough power to saw. You would be better to rig up a jackshaft and pulley transmission with a stock motor.
 
Is the bandsaw a three wheel type with aluminum frame and plastic wheels? If so, it will not last long sawing metal.
 
You would be farther ahead making a saw with a simple angle iron frame and two plywood wheels. Yes plywood wheels. A friend and I built one that way almost twenty years ago for exclusively metal cutting and it is still going strong. We made two 24" (as I recall) wheels of 3/4" thick plywood faced with neoprene rubber strips glued on with contact cement. The rubber provides plenty of grip for the saw band over half the wheel, a huge contact area, and the large radius gives a 12" throat for the cut. Each wheel has a steel hub and shaft inset into it and large 3/16" thick washers each side 6" diameter bolted thru the wood to support the plywood and drive the saw. We drove it with a 1/3 HP washing machine motor and two stage pulley drive, a 2" to 10" first stage and a 3" to 12" second stage. Bronze bearing plummer block were used on all shafts. This drive gave 150 sfm with the motor we used, a little fast but with a GOOD QUALITY industrial bimetal blade works great in any metals including stainless and A or D tool steels. We made some blade and wheel guards of galvanised sheet steel to keep fingers away from the blade. Also 3 ball roller brgs were used a blade guides just over the table and adjustable up and down. I'll see if I can get him to make some photos to post here.

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 07/03/2010 19:40:39

Les Jones 107/03/2010 20:17:48
2292 forum posts
159 photos
Hi Robert,
                    I agree with Jeff's comments. The motor will be an induction motor so you can not use a simple phase control speed controller like you would use on an electric drill. The only way to vary the speed would be to use a variable frequency supply. The motor would probably not even start with the supply frequency reduced to about 5 HZ. The supply voltage would also have to be reduced so I do not think you will be able to find any speed controller that will meet your requirements. (At any price.)
Les.
Ian S C08/03/2010 09:37:52
avatar
7468 forum posts
230 photos
If you do decide to use the existing machine, you would do well if you could find a similar sized 1450rpm motor, this would go a long way to simplifying the speed reduction, you would be able to use 2:1 reduction +/-. Ian S C
Speedy Builder508/03/2010 13:22:47
2878 forum posts
248 photos
Thanks for the comments - seems like extra shafts and pulleys would be the way forward.  I don't have space for another machine in the shed,  and I don't think my wife would appreciate a bandsaw in the lounge, so Thanks Jeff, but no-thanks.
Peter Tucker08/03/2010 20:45:56
185 forum posts
Hi Robert,
 
My father in law used a worm gear on his band saw, much more compact than belts and pulleys.
 
Peter.

All Topics | Latest Posts

Please login to post a reply.

Magazine Locator

Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!

Find Model Engineer & Model Engineers' Workshop

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.

You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

Latest Forum Posts
Support Our Partners
cowells
Sarik
MERIDIENNE EXHIBITIONS LTD
Shopping Partners
Subscription Offer

Latest "For Sale" Ads
Latest "Wanted" Ads
Get In Touch!

Do you want to contact the Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop team?

You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.

Click THIS LINK for full contact details.

For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.

Digital Back Issues

Social Media online

'Like' us on Facebook
Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
 Twitter Logo

Pin us on Pinterest

 

Donate

donate