Background: I bought a used Craftsman Wood lathe for wife. 12" swing and 4 speeds. The 1/2 hp motor developed starting problems, so for now it is under the bench and replaced with a Harbor Freight 1/2 hp motor. I am trying to work out the best possible way (and cheapest) to go variable speed. She wants to do off-center and off-balance turning in the near future. Haven't dissected it but pretty sure the HF motor is brush-less., so that eliminates a VFD since that say they only work with brush motors. Thinking about a 3/4-1hp 3 phase motor and a cheap inverter from EBAY. Suggestions about how to best do this and some recommendations for part names and numbers? Ideal would be a motor with 5/8 keyed shaft to reuse the old multi-step pulley. Pulleys are cheap so that is not a big problem. Anubody have any luck with using a variable speed pulley on a fixed speed motor? What about the DC motors and a VFD? Also if this works good. I would like to upgrade my Drill Press.
Thanks In advance! Charles
Thanks In advance! Charles