treadmill

[Bourne Bill]

I just scored a treadmill and its in working condition. I was thinking of using it as a motor on my Jet mill, but being only 3/4 H.P. 8 amps,I dont think its powerful enough. Any Ideas on what else I could use it for?

[Darren]

What type of Jet mill, if this one then yes I suppose it is a little on the small side. But I suspect you mean a smaller one  got a pic or link.

http://www.jaskela.com/html/img-pages/jet_mill.html

Welcome to the forum BTW,

[sbwhart]

Hi Bill

As Darren said a photo would be helpfull   

If you do a search on the forum ther's a couple in threads that can help you with this.

I take it the treadmill is the type you get at gym.

Could you use the motor to make a post grinder for your lathe ?. Or a buffer.

Have fun
 
Stew

[John Hill]

A 3/4 HP motor that takes 8amps?  Sounds like a low voltage (80 volts or so)  DC motor?  If thats what it is and it is a permanent magnet type you have the makings of a good wind turbine generator!

An easy test, short the wires together and see if it is hard to turn with your fingers, if so it is likely to make an effective low voltage generator and might be a candidate for EBay if you dont have a need for it.

[Brass_Machine]

Hey Bill!

1st Welcome to the collective 
2nd I really don't have an answer for you... these guys might!
3rd I got rid of the duplicate posts. Hope you don't mind... easier to follow the thread if there is only one.

Eric

[Darren]

Yes you could do that, but tread mills come with a motor controller and you have a great source for a variable speed controlled machine.

It's likely to be a DC permanent magnet motor with high torque.
Don't let 3/4hp fool you, many lathes run on 1/2hp and even 1/3 hp My industrial Smart and Brown only uses 3/4hp on low speed and that has plenty of power.

[bogstandard]

I replied to one of the deleted posts, and basically said what Darren suggested.

That size of motor would be perfect for a medium sized lathe, about 5" centre height, and having variable speed makes it really desireable for such a use.

John

[Brass_Machine]

I replied to one of the deleted posts, and basically said what Darren suggested.

That size of motor would be perfect for a medium sized lathe, about 5" centre height, and having variable speed makes it really desireable for such a use.

John

Sorry about that John... I thought I had moved your post.

Eric

[John Hill]

  Duh!  I got distracted by "what else can I use it for?"

Must confess though the tought of using the treadmill electronics for a variable speed drive did not enter my tiny mind!

[Darren]

That's Ok John, we all do that at times, or even most of it 

That's why we are all here, the collective works as one 

[sbwhart]

Thanks Guys I'm a bit dim  when it comes to electrics I didn't know there were permament magnet motors you learn all the time on this forum 

Cheers

Stew

[Bourne Bill]

I forgot to mention that the variable speed works via a split pulley like a snowmobile clutch.

[bogstandard]

Aha!, mechanical variable speed, that will take a little more thought.

Bogs

[Darren]

I forgot to mention that the variable speed works via a split pulley like a snowmobile clutch.

Ah, not so simple then, most do it electrically from what I've read....shame...

[Bourne Bill]

I ll find another one. The town dump where I live has them in the swap shack quite frequently. I get a lot of nice square tubing there, from discarded exercise machines.