Question About Servo Motors

[particle]

Probably the same documentation you're thinking. And the fact that it's poorly translated doesn't help matters at all!

[particle]

If you have the documentation that I'm thinking you have, then it's probally pretty limited for sure.

'Slow Start' or AKA 'Soft Start' is usually a feature found on more expesive Ho Hsing, Mitsubishi, or Efka motors, so having this option on a less expensive motor is a pretty nice feature.

Out of curiosity - you mention 'more expensive' motors. Do you have any experience with those motors? Do those motors have any better speed control? Second question - how much more expensive are we talking?

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Out of curiosity - you mention 'more expensive' motors. Do you have any experience with those motors? Do those motors have any better speed control? Second question - how much more expensive are we talking?

Yes, sure we do; We stock, supply, and install Efka, Mitsubishi, and Ho Hsing motors of all types.

A very nice option is the Ho Hsing 'MJ' series needle positioner motor, seen here on our servo motor page; Click for Ho Hsing MJ motor

Thanks for asking!

[Cobra Tom]

Dear particle,

My name is Tom. I work for Leather Machine Co. The motor is able to run at maximum speed (setting of 40), but for the COBRA Class 4, it should not be used above a setting of 10. The greater the maximum speed is set to, the faster it goes within that short distance that the actuating lever travels. E.g., If top speed=40, then 50% of max. foot pressure will still drive the machine at twice the max. recommended speed. Please fre-adjust the motor's max speed to a setting of 10 or less.

I should have mentioned this, but forgot. When I filmed the video, I had the motor set at max speed - I was winding a bobbin. But, regardless of the maximum set speed, the lack of control in the foot pedal pressure makes the higher speeds useless. The whole point of the servo motor is to provide great control in speed when compared to a clutch motor. When you press the clutch motor's pedal down, once the clutch grabs, the machine takes off. It's very hard to control the speed. That's the same feeling I'm getting from this particular servo motor. I expected more control in the foot pedal. I should be able to use max speed on the motor if I want to, but also have access to the slower speeds by applying less pressure to the foot pedal. That's just not the case - maybe I expected too much?

[particle]

Dear particle,

My name is Tom. I work for Leather Machine Co. The motor is able to run at maximum speed (setting of 40), but for the COBRA Class 4, it should not be used above a setting of 10. The greater the maximum speed is set to, the faster it goes within that short distance that the actuating lever travels. E.g., If top speed=40, then 50% of max. foot pressure will still drive the machine at twice the max. recommended speed. Please fre-adjust the motor's max speed to a setting of 10 or less.

Good to know... Thanks for responding Tom.

Regarding the actuating lever - did I get a dud motor, or do they all have a "hair trigger"? My lever (like I'm sure they all do) has quite a bit of travel, but an extremely small area of travel actually effects the operating speed. I was really expecting a greater/easier variation in speed when I press the pedal down, instead of essentially on/off with a slight twitch of the foot to feather the speed...

[Dallas Cowboy]

Eric-sounds like there should be some way for you to adjust it. Here is a video I found for ya showing what it should run like.

[RonDrake]

Dear particle,

My name is Tom. I work for Leather Machine Co. The motor is able to run at maximum speed (setting of 40), but for the COBRA Class 4, it should not be used above a setting of 10. The greater the maximum speed is set to, the faster it goes within that short distance that the actuating lever travels. E.g., If top speed=40, then 50% of max. foot pressure will still drive the machine at twice the max. recommended speed. Please fre-adjust the motor's max speed to a setting of 10 or less.

[dbusarow]

Good to know... Thanks for responding Tom.

Regarding the actuating lever - did I get a dud motor, or do they all have a "hair trigger"? My lever (like I'm sure they all do) has quite a bit of travel, but an extremely small area of travel actually effects the operating speed. I was really expecting a greater/easier variation in speed when I press the pedal down, instead of essentially on/off with a slight twitch of the foot to feather the speed...

particle,

My Cobra 4 acts the same way. All of the speed control is in the 1st 1/8" of travel of the arm. Steve did send me another motor to try and it's the same as the first. I figure that's just the way they are. I just adjusted max speed way down. Maybe after I've been using it a couple more years I'll be able to handle higher speeds.

I've been thinking about ordering one of the Techsew servo motors and trying that. I'll take a look at Gregg's too.

Dan

[particle]

Another forum member has been chatting with me today - I'll leave him nameless unless he wants to step into the conversation. He pulled his switch plate off to see what the speed control consisted of. It appears to be some sort of light-sensitive switch. An opaque blade passes over the light (seems to be an LED) as you rotate the lever. In theory, the light sensor would detect less and less light, providing gradual control of the speed. It's essentially an on/off switch with almost no fine-tune control via the lever. There unfortunately doesn't seem to be any way to adjust the switch's sensitivity, and replacing the servo motor with a same-kind motor would likely have no effect, unless the switch happened to work better.

Edited May 21, 2012 by particle

[KAYAK45]

Hey there! You might have a "runaway" motor. Send for and try another. I had a runaway and found out the speed adjustment just did'nt work. Try another one.

The dealers are easy to work with. The chinease makers, maybe not so much.