Electric motor help ...Is anyone here a master of Electronics?

[czac]

Help me Ohm-y Watt! You're my only hope!

lol,lol.. Ok Stupid Star wars Reference out of the way... Now down to seriousness!

I have a DC motor, 110 Volt, I wanted to use it on a small lathe but I need it to be 110 Volt AC. Is there a cheap and easy way to do this?
I have looked for converters on line but they are all either to convert 110 AC to 12 or 24 VDC or to do the opposite. The motor in question is supposedly off a Grizzly Mill / Drill machine
but when i went to the site Grizzly says its a universal motor, It isn't.. its A DC motor. It looks exactly like the DC motor on my Harbor Freight 7x10 Mini lathe to be honest.

So what is involved with converting AC to DC.. is it worth it or should I save this as a spare for the mini lathe and continue on searching for an AC motor?

I was stuck on finding a 250 Watt, 110 or 120V ac motor for some reason... but there are a fer 115 watt AC sewing machine motors on Ebay that may seem to work. I want to replace a tired Unimat DB 90W lathe motor so I can actually work with it. And I'm building a sherline mill and I want to upgrade the tired motor on that also.

[Weis003]

Usually D.C. Motors are used because you can get variable speed out of them. They take a range of voltage to make different speeds. You best best is probably a power supply and maybe a dial to adjust speed much like a train set. Any pictures of the motor plate would help.


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[83ATC185]

I think the simplest, ok maybe not the simplest, but the cheapest way to do that would be to build a 4 diode bridge to create a rectifier, however i have no experience with 110v applications and i don't know how much voltage you would lose doing that, maybe someone else will chime in with the diode and cap specs you need for something like this, what you need will depend voltage ratings and the amperage draw of the motor.

[Scootertrash]

I'm not sure how one can tell if an electric motor is "tired". They probably just need a cleaning and maybe some lube.

I would take them apart, pull out the commutator shaft and clean the slots between the copper bars, scotch brite or fine sand paper to clean the copper bars clean everything up with an electrical cleaner, NOT BRAKE OR CARB CLEANER! Make sure any and all bearings and/or bushings don't have excessive wear and replace any that are worn, make sure the brushes aren't worn down to nothing (I typically just replace the brushes, they're cheap) then put them back together.

239582

Your commutator should be clean and shiny, not look like this:

239583

You commutator bars should be nice, straight, and flat. Not grooved or dished.

Post some pics of these motors

[Jd110]

Watts happening! Did you get it figured, yet? You would need a dc 'variable speed motor controller' for a dc motor. If you get the right one, it has everything in it. It has a dial, like stated above.


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[czac]

how does a DC motor work on AC? I mean, My lathe works fine, plug it in and it goes like hell! lol... thats got the same DC motor on it.

[czac]

Watts happening! Did you get it figured, yet? You would need a dc 'variable speed motor controller' for a dc motor. If you get the right one, it has everything in it. It has a dial, like stated above.

but is that all I'd need to make it run off AC house hold current? or do I need something to convert it to DC first? do you have any links to where I can find one of these?
Thanks!

[czac]

I'm not sure how one can tell if an electric motor is "tired". They probably just need a cleaning and maybe some lube.

I would take them apart, pull out the commutator shaft and clean the slots between the copper bars, scotch brite or fine sand paper to clean the copper bars clean everything up with an electrical cleaner, NOT BRAKE OR CARB CLEANER! Make sure any and all bearings and/or bushings don't have excessive wear and replace any that are worn, make sure the brushes aren't worn down to nothing (I typically just replace the brushes, they're cheap) then put them back together.

239582

Your commutator should be clean and shiny, not look like this:

239583

You commutator bars should be nice, straight, and flat. Not grooved or dished.

Post some pics of these motors

Yeah... By tired i mean they seem to be running slower than they should. I can try and clean em up some and see... but I believe the sherline motor is a DC also ... the unimat motor may be AC i will have to pull them both apart to check.

[Jd110]

Sure, here it is:
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=302189991971&category=71393&pm=1&ds=0&t=1486391838779


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[Jd110]

Yeah... By tired i mean they seem to be running slower than they should. I can try and clean em up some and see... but I believe the sherline motor is a DC also ... the unimat motor may be AC i will have to pull them both apart to check.

X2 on checking your brushes and cleaning the commutator. That's where you check the resistance on the windings (between the bars on the commutator). I'll try to help you as much as I can but you will want to do some research. It is electrifying, as you know, so be real careful. Sounds like a fun project.


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[plastikosmd]

I will try and grab you a pic of what I did. took the AC and bridge rectified it, added a capacitor. I used an AC rheostat prior to the rectifier to control speed. (I did this as speed control died on the dc motor) Now I gotta sell that small cnc lathe and mill-gone bigger

[czac]

Sure, here it is:
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=302189991971&category=71393&pm=1&ds=0&t=1486391838779


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So with this not not only controls the motors speed but it converts ac to dc? Cool!

[czac]

X2 on checking your brushes and cleaning the commutator. That's where you check the resistance on the windings (between the bars on the commutator). I'll try to help you as much as I can but you will want to do some research. It is electrifying, as you know, so be real careful. Sounds like a fun project.


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Cool thanks!

[czac]

I will try and grab you a pic of what I did. took the AC and bridge rectified it, added a capacitor. I used an AC rheostat prior to the rectifier to control speed. (I did this as speed control died on the dc motor) Now I gotta sell that small cnc lathe and mill-gone bigger

Cool... so you basically did the same thing i am trying to do? How did the motor work with this set up? Did it lose amy power?

[Jd110]

So with this not not only controls the motors speed but it converts ac to dc? Cool!

That's right. Similar to what a VFD will do for your AC motor. There's a bit to know here. Sounds like plastik has tricks up his sleeve converting his AC back to DC.


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[czac]

someone else said to use this? but I don't know how to even begin to know what to do with that thing! lol

http://www.parts-express.com/400v-25a-bridge-rectifier--050-060?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla

I was just looking for an easy, inexpensive way to be able to put a plug on the end of this motor and plug it into my wall socket and make it run... lol Is that possible to do for somewhere under $100.00 or even under $50.00? Its a $30.00 motor lol I can try and find another one on Ebay. I figured this one was off a bench top mill so it would be fine for a small lathe or mill.

[Jd110]

someone else said to use this? but I don't know how to even begin to know what to do with that thing! lol

http://www.parts-express.com/400v-25a-bridge-rectifier--050-060?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla

I was just looking for an easy, inexpensive way to be able to put a plug on the end of this motor and plug it into my wall socket and make it run... lol Is that possible to do for somewhere under $100.00 or even under $50.00? Its a $30.00 motor lol I can try and find another one on Ebay. I figured this one was off a bench top mill so it would be fine for a small lathe or mill.

The bridge rectifier, from my understanding, will smooth out the ac current and kick it out as D.C. How it is used in your application is above my realm of expertise. I'm an electrician that took a crash course on this 25 years ago and still learning. To hook it up, there's an in and out. They are diagonal from each other. If nobody here can help, you could try here:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwimu8yc2IDSAhVI6mMKHegFA2MQFggKMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.electronicspoint.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNHmiOc8nH-q8H_eUGVp7CCHxwAVEQ.
You don't need to control the speed?


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[czac]

You don't need to control the speed?

lol Yeah, I do...or would like to. lol (see? thats how much I know about this....lol) thanks.

[Jd110]

I'm still that way with certain electronic devices. Anyway, I'll try to get with a couple guys I know here that enjoy being used and abused. If nobody has helped you, I'll try to get you an answer this weekend.
In the meantime, a picture of the name plate will be needed.


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[plastikosmd]

Parts were maybe 15 bucks, although the rheostat was from a tag sale

Rheostat is big blue thing, just an ac speed controller. I'm sure there is a D.C. Version.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/sherline%20cnc/3AE3CDC6-E6E9-4ED5-8A02-C1283DF77844_zpsv9p4q3ux.jpg

Behind that is my bridge rectifierand capacitor(capacitor is not needed to run, careful w this set up, a bleed resistor would be safer. http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/sherline%20cnc/623FA057-AB60-4E3E-9E25-8513AA7A1201_zpsxypp7amv.jpg

Goes like this, ac plugged into speed control, that connects via 2 prongs on rectifier. 2 other prongs on rectifier go to your D.C. Motor. I added a capacitor in parallel to D.C. Motor to smooth out the wave, (not necessary)

So speed control then 2 wires to bridge and 2 out to D.C. Motor and capacitor connected together



Now if I could get some help with a phase converter making 300 v when only 240 is going in , black magic I say

[kb0nly]

I've done this by adapting a treadmill motor to a drill press, just used a few basic parts like a bridge rectifier and filter cap to get DC then a PWM controller for speed control of the motor, that all worked out pretty great.

[plastikosmd]

^good thought

On one site I frequent, there was a great post "treadmills for dummies"
Very handy to find easy machines to convert
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/threads/72618-treadmill-teardown-for-dummies?highlight=Treadmill

[czac]

Awesome Thanks! But I have a couple questions here...

The Seller said My motor was off a Grizzly, G0704 Milling / Drilling machine But on the Grizzly site it says the G0704 has a Universal motor and what i have is not a universal motor. It looks to be the exact motor I have on my 7x10 Harbor freight Lathe.



Rheostat is big blue thing, just an ac speed controller. I'm sure there is a D.C. Version.

So do I need a DC Speed controller for the DC motor or Do I need an AC Speed Controller because I will be using AC current? I have one of those ones you plug your router into and then plug into the wall outlet to control the router speed...



Behind that is my bridge rectifier and capacitor(capacitor is not needed to run, careful w this set up, a bleed resistor would be safer.
What size Bridge rectifier do i need?
What size Capacitor do I need?
What would be better, WITH the capacitor or Without?
What is a Bleed Resistor?
And Why "Be Careful with this set up"? whats the danger?



Goes like this, ac plugged into speed control, that connects via 2 prongs on rectifier. 2 other prongs on rectifier go to your D.C. Motor. I added a capacitor in parallel to D.C. Motor to smooth out the wave, (not necessary)
Plug Speed controller into the wall socket, 110VAC
other two wires from Speed Controller goes to Bridge Rectifier.
then two wire come off Bridge Rectifier and goes to (Capacitor, Cap. then wired to motor) or to DC motor. I think I got it.

Sorry for all the questions...

[czac]

a picture of the name plate will be needed.

Thanks!
I will try to remember to grab a pic tonight when I get home from work!

[czac]

Thanks kb0nly,

I heard alot of guys using treadmill motors but Im not sure what size to get... just like the sewing machine motors too. I see them on Ebay but i don't know which size I should look for. Right now In my head I look for 250 Watt, 110VAC or Universal motors with like 1.5 or 2 Amps because I thought I read someplace thats what someone was using and said it worked well. lol other than that I have no clue.
I do know the Sherline lathe / mill motor I have is a 90 watt and it seems way under powered, same goes for the motor on my old Uni-mat lathe... it is also a 90 watt and doesnt seem to have enough power. and by power i mean you can almost stop it from spinning too easily. I guess I would say I am looking for a motor with better torque?

[czac]

^good thought

On one site I frequent, there was a great post "treadmills for dummies"
Very handy to find easy machines to convert
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/threads/72618-treadmill-teardown-for-dummies?highlight=Treadmill

good im gonna go check it out! thanks!

[czac]

thats an interesting site. I may have to look into a treadmill motor.. lol Thanks again!