Recently added a WEN 4214 drill press to my shop, but was VERY disappointed at the mechanical variable speed. While it did work, it was as noisy as a rock crusher and was a bit inconvenient to use.
So after much YouTube and forum research, I came up with plan to use a DC motor from a treadmill, and then have the speed controlled by an Arduino. Nothing that hasn't been done before - but it is done now and works nicely and has a couple advantages. Is quite quiet, and when you turn of the DP - the DRO goes out (like it should), and still shows accurate RPM's when running.
I've outlined the various steps (very general) that I took for this project, and have them (with pix) in a PDF which you can download here
Below is a pix of the WEN setting beside the LMS 5500 mill
So after much YouTube and forum research, I came up with plan to use a DC motor from a treadmill, and then have the speed controlled by an Arduino. Nothing that hasn't been done before - but it is done now and works nicely and has a couple advantages. Is quite quiet, and when you turn of the DP - the DRO goes out (like it should), and still shows accurate RPM's when running.
I've outlined the various steps (very general) that I took for this project, and have them (with pix) in a PDF which you can download here
Below is a pix of the WEN setting beside the LMS 5500 mill