Aftermarket digital tachometer...anyone done it?

[Mike Cruz]

Well, now that I've got my "almost dream lathe", I'm thinking of all the things I can do to it to pimp it up to make it my dream lathe. I ordered a FVD phase converter for it. Also ordered a manual knob to control the speed. Someday, I would love to turn it into a PM 91 by putting a "lift kit" on it and give it a 16" swing over the bed.

But for now, I'm thinking Digital Tachometer. Has anyone put an aftermarket one on their's? Ok, yeah I'm sure SOMEONE has. As a matter of fact, I read on another forum (through a search) that some folks have done it, but I didn't get a very clear answer as to what they did, or where they got their tach from.

So, if you've done it, please, if you wouldn't mind, let me know what, where, how... all the details.

Thanks!

[Don Nicholas]

Mike,
Not sure if these would work for you or not, but Harbor Freight has 2 units as follows: Digital Photo Sensor Tachometer # 66632 $39.99
Digital Contact Tachometer #66400 $29.00
www.harborfreight.com
just punch in the part numbers in the search window
Hope this helps.

[Mike Cruz]

Thanks, Don. While certainly easy on the budget, I am looking for somethign that would mount to my lathe, that would plug in to ac outlet, not batteries.

[Dan Hintz]

Which VFD did you get, Mike? That $150 one had a display on it...

[Mike Cruz]

Yeah, I got that $150 one. Yes, it has a display, but that display shows the hz output. So, my understanding is that it will show a percentage of 60, depending on how much I turn the knob. Does that make sense?

I considered an upgrade one, for $240 because it had a speed readout. But, upon further review, it shows the motor speed, not the spindle speed. So, I would still have to do calculations based on the motor speed/manual speed that the lathe was set to.

That's why I'm looking for something that I could mount to the lathe that would read the spindle speed. It doesn't have to be super accurate, just so that I don't have to do calculations each time I turn the knob.

[Dan Hintz]

Make a little conversion chart and tape it to the machine... eventually you won't even need it.

[Josh Bowman]

+1 on the HF tach. It works very well and is easy to use. Timed every thing in my shop, but my dog chasing his tail. But with the lathe, I have found I go by sound and of course the lathe starting to vibrate.

[Mike Cruz]

I found this: http://mkctools.com/tachoptions.htm

Looks like it would work. Thoughts?

[Dan Hintz]

Wow, that place is expensive, especially for through-hole style component design.

[Mike Cruz]

Yeah, but I would hope that the stuff is good...

I also just got off the phone with Grizzly. It seems that the spindle speed indicator on their $500 (G0462) lathe may work for me. It isn't the "best" out there, but at least it is made for lathes (or at least has been employed that way by a manufacturer...whatever that is worth). Seems as though I could get it for about $80. I think that might be my best bet.

Any Grizzly G0462 owners out there that care to share how they feel about the speed indicator on their lathes? If I don't get an answer to this questoin, I may have to create another thread...

[Mike Cruz]

Here is a pic of the Grizzly indicator:

[Tony De Masi]

Ok Mike, I'll jump in here. As you know my lathe does have the digital readout right? But to tell you the truth I don't use it except for when power sanding. In reality I turn at the fastest speed that the setup will allow for and still be safe. I never look to see what speed that actually is because it really doesn't matter to me. So, why the need for the tach? I know, I know. You just want to pimp it out some more.

[Mike Cruz]

I won't say no, no, no I really do need it, because you are right, I don't need it. It would just be handy to have. Of course, I could do without it for now and add it later, or do without it completely. I'm just a visual person that learns and understands with visual aids. Also, it is nice to know, when someone talks about slowing down your lathe to X rmp (or thereabouts), knowing that you did just that. Not just thinking you are at X rpm.

Bottom line, no I don't need it and I know that. I was just wondering who, if anyone here, has done it and wanted to know about their experience. And other than the use of a handheld device, it looks like a big....no.

Thanks for the input, though, everyone. It is appreciated.

[Dan Hintz]

It's great for us newbies... we don't have the experience ot know what the lathe sounds like at 'X' RPM...

[Stephen Cherry]

Here is a nice one from someplace else:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb...-lathe-195492/

This seems like a very robust setup.