Variable Speed pedal??????

Just wondering if I could use a variable speed pedal from McMaster Carr with my cheap harbor freight drill press...

Here's a pic of it...



Just want to make sure there isn't a chance of burning up the motor. Thought this might be a good way to get the speed down without changing the pulleys all the time...

Or is this thing meant for something else?

Thanks guys!

 

wouldn't the drill need all the juice for the torque?

 

I think those only work on brush motors.

 

hmm.. good point. I don't know much about electric motors, so I never thought of that...

 

The cheap ones work by reducing voltage,which reduces torque.
Which is fine for some applications.

The good ones work by turning the power on and off;because
the voltage is the same,you still get the same amount of torque.

 

My little drill press was bought from Sears at least 10 yrs' ago, but it is small and was probably outsourced. Point being; I run it on the slowest speed all the time, no reason not to, it spins so fast, might have been geared for wood!

 

all good points, but they don't really answer my question... Can I use it, or no? or would it be good for something else? I gotta guy selling one cheap and don't wanna lose it..

 

Answer is no.

99.99999% of drill presses out there (and 100% of the ones I've worked on) have induction motors which do not like cheap variable speed controls.

The foot control shown there simply reduces voltage like a dimmer switch. If you starve a induction motor for power it will burn itself up trying to run.

An induction motors RPM is based on the frequency of the power supply (60Hz in North America).

What you need is a VFD or Variable Frequency Drive. This will allow you to change motor speed by changing the frequency (Hz) of your power supply.

The absolute best way to go is switch over to a DC motor with a constant-speed system, you set the speed with the control box and as you put more load on the motor it increases torque to compensate. These are huge$$$ and more than most of us would ever need.

Hope this helps.

Shawn

 

Hate to tell you, but you will probably be better off in the long run getting a better drill press, even a twenty-thirty year old US made would be better. I am slowly replacing all my new-bought junk China tools with quality used stuff.

 

I have an old Taiwan drill press bought new.
In the days before HF came to Camarillo, California and expanded.

I just use two speeds on it.
It's quick and easy to change from the bottom sheave row to the top with the belt and the speeds work ok for big and little drills.