Variable Speed Lathe Motors

[Matt Fawkner]

Greetings from Downunder.
I own a Nova 16-24 44 Lathe with most of the Nova options. I like this lathe as it does everything that I want (except one).
Some time back I checked with Nova and Teknatool regarding a variable speed motor that was available online. I suspect that
some members here may have installed that motor configuration on their Nova lathe. Both Nova and Teknatool answered me by saying
that they no longer held this variable speed motor in stock. Despite all of my recent searching online, all I get are replies from people
who have disassembled a walking machine and used the motor and speed changer for this requirements. I suspect that these motors do
not have the power that I need. If no option is presented to me I will continue to manually change the speed as I have always done.
However, if this is another option out there, I will look into it. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[Bill Blasic]

I saw yesterday where Boldac (He is charge of Teknatool here in the states) from Teknatool was asking if there was interest in producing 20 to 40 of the motors for the 1624 etc.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

@Matt Fawkner , I have a Nova 1624-II lathe with the DVR upgrade, which is the system I think you are talking about and looking for. I can tell you that it has worked great for me.

The upgrade includes a "special" DVR motor (120 volt) and an electronic controller, which replace the original (120V) motor. The DVR motor is rated at 1.75 HP compared to 1.5 HP for the original. So you get a little more power, but a great deal more control and convenience. Definitely worth it, in my opinion.

I don't core, and I don't do really large, way out of balance loads, but it's been more than enough power for me.

I suggest you follow Bill Blasic's lead and reach out to Boldac at Teknatools again.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

@Allen Howell , since you were also looking for a DVR, Bill Blasic's post above (#2) may be of interest to you as well.

 

[David Stranz]

I also upgraded to the DVR motor a few years ago. I am mostly satisfied with it - the ability to change to preset speeds with the push of a button is convenient. But either I am using my controller incorrectly or it isn't working properly, but I find that the variable speed control knob allows for only a small range of speed variation around the preset speed. The instructions weren't particularly clear on that. What I was hoping for was a knob that would let me go from 0 to infinity (and beyond) and it doesn't do that.

BTW, the DVR does not replace the belt and pulley box on the original lathe. It still drives the spindle through that, but you leave the belt set permanently on one set of pulleys.

 

[Dean Center]

Greetings from Downunder.
I own a Nova 16-24 44 Lathe with most of the Nova options. I like this lathe as it does everything that I want (except one).
If no option is presented to me I will continue to manually change the speed as I have always done.
However, if this is another option out there, I will look into it. Any advice will be appreciated.

It's not horribly complicated to take a single speed lathe and add a VFD to provide variable speed. I don't have the know-how personally, but one of our club members did that to about a dozen lathes, (sadly, he's no longer with us), and others have too.

 

[Allen Howell]

@Allen Howell , since you were also looking for a DVR, Bill Blasic's post above (#2) may be of interest to you as well.

Thanks, I'll check it out..

 

[Richard Coers]

It's not horribly complicated to take a single speed lathe and add a VFD to provide variable speed. I don't have the know-how personally, but one of our club members did that to about a dozen lathes, (sadly, he's no longer with us), and others have too.

It does include replacing the single phase motor to a 3 phase motor if you want to stay in some kind of budget. Back in the day you put a controller on a DC motor. That was before cheap VFDs. But if you have to change the motor and put on a controller, it may be more economical to sell the lathe and buy a new one with the variable speed you want.

 

[Russell Nugent]

I also upgraded to the DVR motor a few years ago. I am mostly satisfied with it - the ability to change to preset speeds with the push of a button is convenient. But either I am using my controller incorrectly or it isn't working properly, but I find that the variable speed control knob allows for only a small range of speed variation around the preset speed. The instructions weren't particularly clear on that. What I was hoping for was a knob that would let me go from 0 to infinity (and beyond) and it doesn't do that.

BTW, the DVR does not replace the belt and pulley box on the original lathe. It still drives the spindle through that, but you leave the belt set permanently on one set of pulleys.

If it's anything like the dial on my nova saturn dvr then if you turn it the speed increment is small, if you push in and turn it, the speed changes at a higher rate.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

But either I am using my controller incorrectly or it isn't working properly, but I find that the variable speed control knob allows for only a small range of speed variation around the preset speed. The instructions weren't particularly clear on that. What I was hoping for was a knob that would let me go from 0 to infinity (and beyond) and it doesn't do that.

Like Russell said, push & turn the speed control knob to change the RPM by larger increments.

 

[William Moschler]

I also have the belt drive Nova with some options. Back 4 years ago when the variable speed drive replacement motors were available I look at them and decided not to do it. All the reasons I bought the belt drive to start with were still valid. Now I am sorta interested again.. I spent a lot of time watching the sales of used lathes in my area. I have had several chances to purchase a real variable speed Nova and could sell my old one and come out ahead of the $1000 the motor upgrade cost. But decided against it. One reason I sorta wanted to make the change is that the head on the direct drive variable speed machine has 3 bearings and is "better" than the belt drive upgraded. But my thinking now is "so what". Keep flipping the belt and make a change if something goes wrong. To change lathes would be more trouble for me than it is worth to end up with about the same machine again. Maybe if I turned more from logs and green wood.

 

[Matt Fawkner]

I also have the belt drive Nova with some options. Back 4 years ago when the variable speed drive replacement motors were available I look at them and decided not to do it. All the reasons I bought the belt drive to start with were still valid. Now I am sorta interested again.. I spent a lot of time watching the sales of used lathes in my area. I have had several chances to purchase a real variable speed Nova and could sell my old one and come out ahead of the $1000 the motor upgrade cost. But decided against it. One reason I sorta wanted to make the change is that the head on the direct drive variable speed machine has 3 bearings and is "better" than the belt drive upgraded. But my thinking now is "so what". Keep flipping the belt and make a change if something goes wrong. To change lathes would be more trouble for me than it is worth to end up with about the same machine again. Maybe if I turned more from logs and green wood.

Thanks Bill. I love my Nova 1624-44. It has all of the "add ons" that I need. I would like to get a Variable Speed Motor, but if the options that have been discussed already become difficult, I will stick with changing speeds manually.

 

[William Moschler]

I think the 2 ways to get a variable speed motor on a lathe is to either install a DC motor with a speed controller or to install a 3 phase motor with a frequency drive. I have used both in an industrial lab. I am pretty sure that both options along with the expertise to specify one would far exceed the $1000 that Nova was charging at the end of the time their conversion kit was available. And...I was not willing to pay that much when it was available. I have just decided that I like changing belts. Maybe like driving a manual shift sports car. Hence my use it like it is or sell it thoughts I have now. I spent the $1000 it would have cost to add the speed control on tools and accessories. Chucks, jaws, Easy Wood tools, CBN wheel, sandpaper, stuff like that. That upped my capability much more that the speed control would have. It may be that more affordable options for variable speed conversion will come. I do not think so. But...I just bought a variable speed motor and controller from Penn State Industries that is labeled 3/4 hp that they sell as an upgrade for belt drive middies. About $200. I got it to adapt to a old Craftsman 109 metal lathe that I fool with sometimes with my spare time and spare money. I have gotten used to and like the swivel head on the 1644. So I decide to keep it. A sliding head would not work as well in my lathe location.

 

[john lucas]

I just looked at buying a 1 horse motor either DC with controller or 3phase with VFD. The cheapest I found was $650. One motor I didn't look at because I don't know anything about them are stepper motors. I ended up buying the Pennstatind 3/4 horse variable speed kit for a little over $200 after tax and shipping. I don't know what it is. It's not a DC motor because it has 3 leads going to the motor and when you read the voltage it never changes when you adjust the pot. The motor works great and pulls strong but I was hoping it was DC so I could add a reverse switch but it won't let me do that.