Consew 226 Sewing machine

[prbush]

What size and brands of servo motors are you using?  In looking I am seeing several different sizes and brands....550, 750, 1000, different horse powers , etc....  want to make sure I am looking for one that would give me plenty of power and reliability but at the same time do not want to go way overboard and get the largest just because it is large.....

[Wizcrafts]

2 hours ago, prbush said:

What size and brands of servo motors are you using?  In looking I am seeing several different sizes and brands....550, 750, 1000, different horse powers , etc....  want to make sure I am looking for one that would give me plenty of power and reliability but at the same time do not want to go way overboard and get the largest just because it is large.....

I have 2 Family Sew FS-550 servo motors in service at this time. One feeds a 3:1 speed reducer (on a CB4500). The other is direct drive to the machine. I can set the speed limiter to minimum and still punch through leather without the motor bogging down. Both are equipped with a small 50mm pulley that adds torque. The standard pulley is much bigger and would run too fast and lose power when you try to sew slowly. The pulley size matters on leather sewing machines.

[prbush]

Thanks for the reply.......so would the 550 be all that I would need on the consew226?  would the larger 750 or 1000 just be overkill....also,  if I understand you correctly you changed the 2" pulley to a 50mm pulley?  would this be the pulley size I should try to start with?   would I need a speed reducer or is it only for the heavier machines like your cb4500?    Would I be ok leaving the existing pulley on the main machine or does it have to be changed out too....  Thanks for bearing with all my questions,  I want to get it set up correctly but not change out something that makes no improvement   so that I do not get too frustrated trying to learn the machine......

[Northmount]

2" equals 50mm (actually 50.8mm) so is considered the same size.

With your Consew, you are not sewing 3/4" of leather, so don't need the higher wattage/horsepower.  Depending how slow you want to go, you still might want a speed reducer pulley set.  But why not test the setup with your servo first and see how it behaves before spending the extra on the speed reducer?

Tom

[dikman]

550w (= 3/4 hp) would work fine on your machine, 750w (=1 hp) would obviously give a bit more available power but unless the price was good I wouldn't worry about it. Most servos appear to come with 75mm (3") pulleys as standard, you should fit the smallest you can get, in my case the supplier (in China) sent 45mm. You're in the States, so I would suggest you take Wiz's advice and get a Family Sew as he has been happy with them (plus I reckon the price is good). You can buy cheaper from China (which is pretty well where they all come from anyway) but buying "locally" should give you peace-of-mind in the unlikely event you have any problems with it.

As has been said, just start with the servo and smaller pulley first.Keep it simple.

Edited May 13, 2018 by dikman

[leecopp]

Both Toledo Industrial and Keystone Sewing sell the the 550 size servo with the 50mm pulley as the default or an option. As mentioned above this is a great place to start. I had an eagle brand servo come with a machine and had no luck fitting a smaller pulley (odd shaft size, I was unwilling to throw any more money at it).

[Wizcrafts]

@prbush

The shaft on the Family Sew motors is not a standard diameter (as pulley mounting holes go). The 50mm pulley is custom fitted by the dealer. If you buy one from an online seller who is not a specialist in leather sewing machines, it will probably have the 75mm pulley installed (standard for high speed upholstery and garment sewing). This will not be a good size for slow sewing. The machine could start up like a jack rabbit.

As for your question about the machine pulley, measure the diameter of the pulley across the top. If it is at least 4 inches, keep it. That way a 2" motor pulley will yield a 2:1 speed reduction/torque multiplication.

[prbush]

Thanks for everyone replying.....I really appreciate it..... I think I have some good information and direction to go with.....I will look at the 550 and make sure it has a 50 mm pulley.....will check the pulley on the machine itself and will wait on the reducer until I see how it reacts......

[Colt W Knight]

I used a size 25 needle in my consew 206 with #138 thread when I was sewing biothane/brahma webbing for GPS tracking collars and padding material. The smaller needles just wont do it. I now have a Cowboy 441 clone, so I don't do it anylonger

 

[Wizcrafts]

12 hours ago, prbush said:

Thanks for everyone replying.....I really appreciate it..... I think I have some good information and direction to go with.....I will look at the 550 and make sure it has a 50 mm pulley.....will check the pulley on the machine itself and will wait on the reducer until I see how it reacts......

This dealer sells the Family Sew FS-550 with a 50mm pulley attached. He also has type 3L v-belts. You are going to need a shorter belt after you replace the clutch motor (with its bigger pulley).