Adding A Speed Reducer To A Flatbed

[CowboyBob]

Looks good!! It probably should work nice too,that small pulley is smaller than usual so it should slow it down alot.

[cdthayer]

Thanks Bob. You’re not kidding! It really slowed it down!

I have only sewn on clutch motor industrial machines before, and this is my first speed reducer, so it’s all new to me. I was surprised at how much harder it is to hand wheel with the SR attached. I thought I’d done something to cause the brake to drag, until I realized that the gearing adds to the drag on the hand wheel when turning everything from the wheel now. I’ll have to change my style of sewing a bit. Less hand wheeling and more foot sewing.

I was able to use the machine to sew an embroidered patch onto a baseball-style cap yesterday, and it’s like I have a completely different machine now. The additional slow-speed control will make using this machine much more comfortable. Although, it may make it more difficult to feather my other clutch motors now that I’m spoiled.

CD in Oklahoma

[swashbu]

CD,

What type of screw did you use to secure the SR to your table? Looks great by the way.

Steve

[cdthayer]

I used small hex-head lag screws, whatever size diameter that went through the mounting holes, and I think they were 1 1/2” long. I got them at the local hardware store.

CD in Oklahoma

[swashbu]

Thanks for the response CD. I should have thought of using lag screws.

Steve

[SARK9]

Steve-

Another option I find convenient for mounting the SR's is called a hanger bolt- It has a lag threads for wood on one end and a regular machine thread on the other, accepting a nut and washer. Its a bit friendlier if you anticipate having the assembly on and off during fitting, since you can spin the nuts off quickly.

DC

[Constabulary]

Just another idea for attaching a speed reducer .

Edited December 30, 2013 by Constabulary

[swashbu]

DC & Constabulary,

Thanks for the excellent suggestions. My table is kind of funky so having mountings options will help a lot. I have a servo but I would really like to be able go very very very slowly on some small curved pieces.

Thanks!

Steve

[cdthayer]

I like the idea of using the stand frame for attachment points. It helps avoid the congestion at the underside of the top surface, and opens up the possibility of using larger pulleys when making your own speed reducer assembly.

Thanks for posting photos. I hope others will do the same. Mine seems to be working just fine so far.

CD in Oklahoma

[jkbuzbee]

just bought a 225 and its super fast to say the least I am looking into mounting a SR on it is there anyway you can post some more pictures of how it mounted??? where did you get your pulleys form and what was the total cost of adding the SR... really need some help slowing it down thanks jody