powermatic speed

[jason lambert]

I was turning on the big one way this weekend what a treat. Anyhow what impressed me is the slow speed it can go and the amount of tork it had. I have never used the powermatic but thinking of gettign one and couldn't find a speed rane on the site. How slow will that go and does it have real tork at thoes speeds?

[Scott Hubl]

Look Here>http://www.powermatic.com/Products.a...8&Part=1352001

Click the Specifications Tab.
On the High pully I can get down to 123 rpm
On the low pully I can get down to 47

With full torque.
It's pretty Sweet.

[Bruce Pennell]

Jason maybe Scott or Ken can chime in, I just got mine, Low 0-1240 hi 0-3000 ( haven't tried high yet.) The best thing is the sliding head, when doing bowls hit one lever and slide the head down toward the end. Just like having a bowl lathe, nothing in your way on big tool swings. Those are my two favorite things about the 3520b, sliding head and 0-1240 low 0-3000 hi. Belt change is super easy, unlock, take tension off, move belt, re-tension and lock. It takes longer to type it than to change it. Talk about torque I was taking some amazingly deep cuts with a Doug Thompson 1/2 bowl gouge, unbelievable. If you belong to a turning club see if someone will let you play. If your near Benson come on over....Bruce
PS call Sean at Toolnut he will really take care of you, he did a great job (price and service) for me.

[Ron Ainge]

I had mine running full speed saturday and the meter read 3450 rpm and then when I started to do some sanding with it I turned the speed down to 156 rpm. it will go a bit slower than that but not much.

[Bruce Pennell]

Scott yours doesn't go down to zero, mine does....Bruce

[Scott Hubl]

Yes it goes to Zero on either pully.
But once you get it down to it's minimal speed (give or take a couple RPM's with each machine) it stops turning. But keeps its torque at the low speeds.

You can't run it at say 3 rpm's, understand? Try it out on yours.

[Bruce Pennell]

Thanks Scott, I understand now....just a little thick in the head today. To much Deft spray last night. I will have to check mine to see what my slowest speed is, I started a mesquite vase last night, about a 40 pound log, I turned it very slow to begin (but never looked at the meter). Today I went out to build a steady rest, had some hickory laying around, made my frame, but snapped every screw I put it together with. They were good screws (pocket from McFealy) even waxed I snap them off. Gave up for today, might try again after lunch, but will make the frame out of ply. Save the hickory for more tool handles.

[Reed Gray]

There is a difference in the speed ranges on the A and B models. The A model will go from 0 to 1500 on the slow range, and 0 to 3000 on the high range. The B model goes from 0 to 1250 on the low range, and 0 to 3400 on the high range. Now, for slowest speeds, which I need for power sanding my warped bowls, the A model will go down to 10 rpm or less. The B model shuts off at about 50 rpm. This is too fast for my warped bowls. I now have a Robust, and it also shut off at about 50 rpm. I called up Brent, and he told me how to set the converter so that it would go all the way down to about 10 rpm as well. I would think that the same could be done with the PM if you wanted to. The only reason to have a speed that slow is to sand warped bowls, or anything that isn't round. The main concern is the motor over heating because the cooling fan isn't running fast. I have sanded for a couple of hours straight a few times, and the motor never even got warm.
robo hippy

[Paul Heely]

I downloaded the manual for the converter on my 3520B. It would be very easy to reprogram the shut off speed IF you know the password for the controller. Without it you would have to reset the entire controller to its factory settings and then reprogram the entire thing.

Anyone happen to know the password?

--
Paul

[Scott Hubl]

Youd be alot better off NOT messing with the vfd drive.

You could screw it up totally not knowing wth your doing with it.
And also VOID your 5 year warrenty I bet.

[Bob Hallowell]

Scott Vfd's are made to be messed with. You will not hurt it the only worry would be hurting the motor if it used a fan the relied on the input hertz to cool it.

Bob

[Scott Hubl]

MAYBE for someone who is experienced with them.

Manual clearly states " The buttons on the face of the inverter should never be pushed at any time." < In BOLD

A.C. Inverter

(mounted to rear of headstock)

The 3520B Lathe uses the latest technology in
A.C. inverter drives to provide infinitely variable
spindle speeds within the specified ranges
(shown under “Specifications” on page 6). The
inverter controls the speed of the motor by
varying the frequency of the voltage supplied to
the motor. The inverter provides an acceleration
ramp that eliminates the shock of normal
starting. Also, a braking feature eliminates long
coasting periods after the Lathe is turned off.
The 2 horsepower motor is specially designed
for use with inverter drives, and is balanced to
reduce noise and minimize vibration.
The A.C. Inverter does not require any
programming – it is pre-programmed from the
factory.

The buttons on the face of the
inverter should never be pushed at any time.

Use only the controls on the front of the
headstock.
If you suspect there is a problem with the
inverter or the inverter settings, contact WMH

Tool Group technical service at 1-800-274-6848.

~Use compressed air to blow out the interior of
the headstock, in order to keep sawdust and
chips from accumulating on belts and sheaves.
Also blow off debris that accumulates on the
inverter.

Do not disassemble inverter to

clean!

~Lathe runs at one

speed only.

Potentiometer faulty. Replace potentiometer.

Electronic AC inverter is not
programmed properly, or is defective,
or there is loose wiring.
Contact WMH Technical Service to

help identify problem; 800-274-6846.

If there made to be messed with , Why does the owners manual warn you NOT to touch it? And why is it "password" protected?

You can screw up your lathe if you don't know just what you are doing with it. And i'm sure it will Void your warrenty if you go messing with it and screw it up.

To each his own, I'm happy with mine the way it is.

Going from a slow speed of 450RPM's on another lathe, I can easily deal with 50 rpm's f0or any task I do.

BE CAREFUL messing with those guys if you have no experience doing so.

Myself, I'll let tech support deal with it while under warranty.

[Paul Heely]

Scott I am well aware of what I am asking for and what the risks are. Your concerns are duly noted.

--
Paul

[Jim Becker]

Jason, the little OneWay 1018 I used to have was able to go nearly to zero, as is my current machine, a Stubby 750. It seems that some VFD machines can go to almost zero and some have a little higher "low end", but it's still pretty low compared to non-VFD machines!

[Gary Herrmann]

I used to be technical - now I just try to shield the team from the clients. My wife is an EE, so she's the alpha geek. If 50 isn't low enough for me - which I kinda doubt, we may think about cracking it open.