Thread: Contact Wheels & Advice Please...

Here is my flat platten set up, with and without a belt.



Here is a photo of my control panel. I would like to find an electric motor expert that could tell me how to replace it with a simple DC motor control - but it is good for laughs!

Hey man, it works...so why fix it?

Once I am up and running I will look into a 2" contact wheel for sure! Thanks for sharing...

Just ordered my 7/8" shaft, keyed & set screwed 2"w x 4" diameter contact wheel & a 2" x 2" contact wheel from Sunray (had to order both to meet the minimum order of $100) and my new VFD from Dealers: 2HP 230 Volt -- USE AS A PHASE CONVERTER PLUS GET VARIABLE SPEED, Model JNEV-202-H1, Single Phase Input ONLY, Three Phase Output, variable frequency drive, variable frequency drives, ac drive, vfd, afd, frequency drive, drive, inverter, adjustable sp

Now I just have to wait patiently for the wheel to be made (they say up to two weeks) and everything to come in...then wire it all. Should be making dust within 3-4 weeks...Yippeee!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your help guys, especially you Brad, I truly appreciate it.

The drama is finailly over and I have to say I would have bought a grinder turnkey if I had known all of the "issues" I would run into. The first motor, the Baldor I bought new, was no good...so the electric motor repair shop says. I get another motor, still nothing. I break down and order a VFD directly from KMG and guess what...works. I've got a little more adjusting/tweaks & I'll be making sparks. Talk about a frustrating journey.

I know, no pics or it didn't happen. Give me a lil bit & I'll have some up...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

The drama is finailly over and I have to say I would have bought a grinder turnkey if I had known all of the "issues" I would run into.

Which is why I bought a turnkey grinder. 2011 till now is a long time to be building a grinder.

I allowed myself to get discouraged, then distracted. Shows you are the smarter one...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I allowed myself to get discouraged, then distracted. Shows you are the smarter one...

Meh. Wouldn't say I am smarter. But I know myself pretty well, so I knew it would be better to pony up the 1800 euros for a full option grinder with VFD than to try and make one myself.

After I got frustrated, my "other" hobby compensated for me and I kept my focus on guns for a while. My goal was quality & not quantity & to get rid of some of the wildcat's I had. Everything, well for the most part, fits into just one safe now! Time to start making dust again...

I've got a few things to customize and finish on the grinder, but it runs true. I still need to make up a flat platen attachment to work on in-between the 3" & 4" wheels & some tool rests. I'm actually worried that it may be a bit slow as the motor is an 1800 motor. May get a larger drive wheel if need be, but it will go nice and slow for that work after HT.

I think the biggest thing when looking at speed is the power you have with the motor the 2hp ballpark is good, and with your 1800 rpm motor- the speed of the motor is irrelevant really as long as your getting the correct sfpm. I run around 1800 for just about everything. I have a 3650 rpm motor and with the step pulleys I get around 1800 sfpm at it's slowest setting and I never move it to go faster. But I would slow it down a bit at times if I could.

So IMO a slower RPM motor is the way to go, it gets you in a workable SFPM range much easier. I think you'll be happy with the speed.

You will see what speed you like best, but if you want higher speed for profiling and rough hollowing than you will have to use a very big drive wheel. Imo a 8" drive wheel is about right, that gives you a top speed of about 3500-4000 sfpm if you don't overclock your motor. That speed is about the most you would need, even for profiling. I wouldn't buy a faster motor for just 1-2000 sfpm more, it isn't really needed.