Direct Drive Servo Motor retrofit for vintage singer 491D

[JClif88]

Does anyone have experience with adding a direct drive servo motor to a vintage industrial lockstitch machine?

It seems as though the direct drive motors seen here...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000188162454.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.7b1e20faCglHc4&algo_pvid=55f99c43-5325-47c2-af78-38bd3defab7c&algo_expid=55f99c43-5325-47c2-af78-38bd3defab7c-0&btsid=2100bb4716050851459187891e49cf&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Should work but I want confirmation first, it doesn't seem like there is any local sellers (UK) and the only ones I can find would come from China, so I just want to make sure.

If anyone has any experience with them, I'd love to know what the speed control is like on them?

[Constabulary]

Why a direct drive motor and not a standard under table mount motor? I´m sure that would cause less trouble.

[JClif88]

Reduced Gubbins about, no need for a synchronizer, no belt losses, no belt wear and a lighter table overall.

 

Edited November 12, 2020 by JClif88

[chrisash]

But most likely a large problem to overcome fitting it to your machine. the pictures show it fitted to modern machines designed for it

Plenty of uk based sellers selling servo's at far lower prices which are far easier to fit under the table and out of the way

[Constabulary]

agree with chrisash.

1 hour ago, JClif88 said:

Reduced Gubbins - maybe true but lots of fiddling attaching it to the machine (depends a bit on your skills) if it is not a dedicated motor and it for sure is not.

no need for a synchronizer - yes, if you really need one - many do not - I don´t.

no belt losses - overrated IMO on a light duty machine like this.

belt wear - overrated, how often do you change  a V- Belt? 1x in 5 year or 10 year or maybe never.

and a lihter table overall - Lighter table? Not sure how much difference that is maybe 1-2KG or so? How often do you move your table that this matters?

my 2 cents

 

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Intresting motor for sure, never seen that type. 

If you look, most are for specific model machines as a direct bolt on.  The Juki for example seem to mount off the where the original belt guard would bolt onto.  

Most direct drives moachines from the factory have built into the factory casting mounting for this or again is retrofitted as is here.

Personally, I would just get a belt drive motor and be done with it, otherwise you may end up with a mess on your hands.  

[dikman]

3 hours ago, Gregg From Keystone Sewing said:

Personally, I would just get a belt drive motor and be done with it, otherwise you may end up with a mess on your hands.  

My thoughts too. It would be an interesting exercise - but only if someone gave me the motor, I wouldn't buy one just to see if it would fit!

[DonInReno]

This type of motor motor set up is relatively new as a retrofit, not to mention there is no track record to go off of with that specific motor, so you are sailing in uncharted waters.    Do you feel lucky?   

In these cases I’m a fan of letting someone else take the risk - so I hope you get it, use the heck out of it and let us know how it goes!   

Edit:  After thinking about it a bit more the main thing I couldn’t live with is a lack of speed reducer.   

Edited November 15, 2020 by DonInReno

[JClif88]

Yes, this is a concern, I don't actually do lots of leather work so probably don't need a super slow speed but do want to work at a slower speed, I'm not sure how slow these motors can be tweaked to go and I'm hoping a bit of practice should be all that's required when it's tweaked right down.

On 11/15/2020 at 10:49 PM, DonInReno said:

This type of motor motor set up is relatively new as a retrofit, not to mention there is no track record to go off of with that specific motor, so you are sailing in uncharted waters.    Do you feel lucky?   

In these cases I’m a fan of letting someone else take the risk - so I hope you get it, use the heck out of it and let us know how it goes!   

Edit:  After thinking about it a bit more the main thing I couldn’t live with is a lack of speed reducer.   

 

[Constabulary]

Do what others did - that at least proven. I do not think these retrofit direct drive motors have a better speed control than other (proven) motor designs. But I maybe wrong. Super slow is better than a little bit to fast. IMO speed reducers have a lot of advantages. DIY speed reducers can be build fairly cheap. This is mine on the post bed setup I fished earlier this year:

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/91428-slowing-down-my-servo/?tab=comments#comment-626493