Hand speed controller for Cowboy and similar sewing machines

[Wizcrafts]

Alexander, at Solar Leather Machines, has come up with an interesting project that replaces the foot motor control pedal with a hand squeezed palm controller. This could be a God-send for those with leg or foot problems that make it hard or impossible for them to control the speed of their machine by foot. Check out his YouTube video about this project.

 

[Yetibelle]

That is a great Idea.  I wanted to mount a machine and motor on top of a workbench that would solve the pedal problem.  I suppose you could also convert that to a pedal with the extra long flexible cord,  then you could move it around like a pedal system on a home machine.  Now your not limited to a fixed-link or chain pull pedal system . 

 

 

[Constabulary]

Excellent invention! Should not be too difficult as a DIY as well. However its great some one wrecked his brain!

[chuckgaudette]

I really appreciate companies working on solutions for people who can't use all their limbs of which I am one of them, being wheelchair bound since 1996. I did learn to fly an airplane after I got this chair. I found a guy who made a hand control which he had an FAA certification for. The way it works is you slide your arm through a ring on a rod which is connected to the pedal. It allows you to use both hands and still operate the rudder pedal with your forearm. 

So when I took up leather work I used a similar approach. I have a rod connected to the pedal of my PFAFF 335 which I can operate with my forearm. The original rod connecting the pedal to the motor is still connected. I apply pressure to the plate at the top of this rod which works the pedal below. This allows me to use both hands to guide the leather through the machine and vary the speed at the same time. Of course I also have a speed reducer which helps with the finer control. It looks a bit clunky with $10 worth of parts from Home Depot but it works. 

 

[Bodean]

Awesome solution.

[rejerome]

Perfect thread....I'd been tryin' to figure out a solution for my Cobra 4.

I work from a wheelchair with limited leg control.  I've managed to use the speed controller using the heal of my left foot to press down on the top of the petal.  It works but gets a little tiring after a while.

I know I'd see a similar thread somewhere in the past but had been unable to locate it again.

Thanks everyone!

[Darren Brosowski]

I have made a stand alone version of this concept for a couple of customers.

The advantage of mine is that is elbow operated and can be mounted anywhere so that the user has two free hands

 

[dikman]

That is a well thought out solution. For anyone wishing to try making their own there are all sorts of hand levers out there, for cycles and motorcycles, so it shouldn't be too hard to find one that will work. I don't really need one, but I'm tempted to have a go just out of curiosity to see what it's like to use.

Well done Alexander.

[RockyAussie]

13 hours ago, chuckgaudette said:

I really appreciate companies working on solutions for people who can't use all their limbs of which I am one of them, being wheelchair bound since 1996. I did learn to fly an airplane after I got this chair. I found a guy who made a hand control which he had an FAA certification for. The way it works is you slide your arm through a ring on a rod which is connected to the pedal. It allows you to use both hands and still operate the rudder pedal with your forearm. 

So when I took up leather work I used a similar approach. I have a rod connected to the pedal of my PFAFF 335 which I can operate with my forearm. The original rod connecting the pedal to the motor is still connected. I apply pressure to the plate at the top of this rod which works the pedal below. This allows me to use both hands to guide the leather through the machine and vary the speed at the same time. Of course I also have a speed reducer which helps with the finer control. It looks a bit clunky with $10 worth of parts from Home Depot but it works. 

 

That looks like an excellent solution. Just curious if it is practical to use your chest for pushing with in order to have more hand freedom still or would that create balance problems? I know when I made a linesman pouch awhile back I would have liked three arms to hold/fight it while sewing at times.Thanks for sharing.Regards Brian

[LumpenDoodle2]

There is a sewing machine mouth operated speed controller out there.   It's called a byteswitch, no idea of cost, but it's air operated.    Certainly potential for development by some clever soul.