Positioner

[Robotstar5]

Neat box for the controls thought there would be a footswitch?

 

[wyn]

Can tell your a maintenance type person! We're the only ones that ever use sy. Did you remember to earth the braid!

I didn't earth the braid to the glands but to the heat sink of the inverter and to the motor casing at the other end as it had it's own gland. Don't know if thats right or not.

The power lead was just connected to a 13 amp plug so it didn't earth the braid on that one.

 

[wyn]

Very nice, good to see one of my motors put to good use. And hope mine was the inspiration, if only to get on and build one

and you'll need that paint stirring speed for TIG

I was looking at your positioner quite a bit to get ideas.
The motor was just the thing thanks.
I think i'll be cutting up scrap tomorrow and firing up the tig to give it a go.

Neat box for the controls thought there would be a footswitch?

The footswitch idea has been rattling about in my head for a week or so.

I think i'll get another potentiometer for a footswitch then in the control box fit another switch to swap between the two potentiometers....maybe even a plug and socket to disconnect it all together when needed.

 

[Shox Dr]

Neat box for the controls thought there would be a footswitch?

That's very high on the round tuit list.

I find sometimes it takes me longer to 'dial' in the speed than it takes to weld. I want to build one possibly working on the main pots current position for the foot pedal to work within a finer +/-range of that. if that makes sense

 

[Shox Dr]

Also I want to calibrate a bezel to fit around the pot so I have a better idea of the speed. I had thought of a little wheel running off the shaft with a speed gauge on it

 

[Robotstar5]

The footswitch idea has been rattling about in my head for a week or so.

I think i'll get another potentiometer for a footswitch then in the control box fit another switch to swap between the two potentiometers....maybe even a plug and socket to disconnect it all together when needed.

Does the footswitch need to be a speed controller? the ones I worked with were simply on/off types once the speed was set on the pot.

 

[wyn]

Does the footswitch need to be a speed controller? the ones I worked with were simply on/off types once the speed was set on the pot.

I see what you mean....possibly once i use it a bit and keep a record of the pot settings for mig or tig and the diameter of the bit being welded, on and off will be all it needs.

 

[Shox Dr]

You could always have 3. TIG/On/off and speed. All you then need is a pipe from matts thread and we could start a, wind and pipe organ forum/club

 

[Shox Dr]

I see what you mean....possibly once i use it a bit and keep a record of the pot settings for mig or tig and the diameter of the bit being welded, on and off will be all it needs.

I have a spread sheet with Dia= IPM/RPM if you want me to email you it

 

[wyn]

I have a spread sheet with Dia= IPM/RPM if you want me to email you it

That sounds very handy Shox, I'll pm you my email

 

[Welderpaul]

Does the footswitch need to be a speed controller? the ones I worked with were simply on/off types once the speed was set on the pot.

Some of the ones i have looked at automatically stop start by sensing the welding current. Would that be easy enough to copy with some electronic wizzardry?

 

[Robotstar5]

Some of the ones i have looked at automatically stop start by sensing the welding current. Would that be easy enough to copy with some electronic wizzardry?

I have used a reed switch to detect welding current, fires a relay to switch the positioner on/off, only costs a few pounds.

 

[wyn]

I had a go at sticking a few bits together this morning.

Trying out a bit of mig horizontaly.
The one on the right was the first go and a bit wobbly with the torch.
The one on the left was the second go and seemed a lot better.
The speed seemed to be ok as well...the tube is around 3" diameter.



A bit of tig.



All the stuck together bits of tube being migged to another lump of steel.

I just clamped a few bits of steel to the sides to lean on.

I removed the original spring loaded point from the middle of the table and fitted some 20mm threaded bar. I then stacked some weights over this to push down on the bits to be welded.

I think i might knock up some sort of weight with a cone shape to hold and centralize the bits in the future.



The mig in this position seemed to be ok.... maybe a bit too much wire speed.

While i was doing this i tried to get an arc on the workbench that it was all sitting on...Nothing at all so the table earth etc must be pretty well insulated from the rest of the frame.



A bit of tig..needs a bit more practice.



Lots of cables....i think i will need to put a plug and socket on the cable to the motor so all the wiring can be disconnected to make storing it a bit easier.

 

[Shox Dr]

Good aren't they

I have a holder for the mig torch, need to fit a remote switch

 

[wyn]

I think you're right with the holder...it's just too tempting to move the torch.

A remote off/on would be handy........it was a bit strange reaching across to the box to start/stop.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Nice one Wyn, Love it. A+++++

 

[madkayaker]

if you got cleaver you could add a relay into the machine to start when the trigger was pulled. or on some of the bigger machines there might be a spare pole/ back contact that could be see

 

[eil]

Wheres the run made with MMA Wyn, just in case you run out of gas

 

[ukracer]

Machining a flat surface on the back of the table for the earth.




Bracket welded on to take the earth.
I was lucky enough to get one of these purpose made work returns from "Robotstar5"

It sure is a monster ...looks like it would be good for 500 amps or more.

What are those things called that transfer the earth I guess they are not carbon brushes lol I ask as I need to source one for my table I am building!!

Regards Andy T

 

[ukracer]

Something like this pressing against the back of the face plate?

View attachment 31161

We use them on rotating welding fixtures and they last years with the occaisional lube with copaslip.

Something like this pressing against the back of the face plate?

View attachment 31161

We use them on rotating welding fixtures and they last years with the occaisional lube with copaslip.

What are they called mate and where do they sell them??

Regards Andy t