Motor upgrade

[Fixer]

I'm just gathering all the info I need before embarking on mods to my 150 dualpurpose.
I'm planning on the drive transformer, roller brace/tie and I will check to see if I have a steel or plastic liner and replace if plastic (i read somewhere that Sip now instal steel liners fron new and Ive not checked mine)

BUT it seems to me that the remaining weak link will be the motor...as Ive heard people say they are the same as what powers kids toys (although I must say, none of my kids toys run on 24v - as parents we tend to go for fisherprice over Dewalt lol)
SO is there a more torquey lump I could drop in to complete my hotrod welder? What spec motor would spin at the same (or suitable) speed but with more resolve?
I think I once read that it has to do with the amps to the motor wheras volts affects the speed???

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hmmm, wonder if you could modify a 24v cordless drill motor? They've got plenty of grunt. I've come across a place that does complete wire feed assemblies, browse to Welding machine replacement products, Wire feed spares. Prices don't seem too bad on them either but their machines seem quite expensive.

 

[malcolm]

I'm not convinced the motor itself is really trouble. Surely the only real advantage a bigger motor might give is a faster start up speed which can be handy for tacking and spotting your way along a weld. Suppose a bit more inertia in the motor might help speed stability a little. Going to be final tuning for after you've smoothed out the power supply to the torch.

I wondered whether it would be possible to rob a motor and feed assembly from an old welder that was otherwise broken.

 

[Hitch]

I think our two Hitachi plants use syncronous motors.

 

[malcolm]

I suppose the other advantage of a bigger motor is it helps get around other problems with wire feed. I botched a SIP (old one with decent motor) at work the other day to temporarily take 0.7kg reels. Put a lot of strain on the motor and I couldn't get max wire speed (which I needed at the time).

 

[JW240]

here is someone who made his own feed assembly, from an old windscreen wiper motor.

http://home8.inet.tele.dk/jan_p/index.htm

He made a mig welder from scrapheap parts. interesting read!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hehe, apart from the fact that none of the numbered items match their descriptions.
A good project all the same.

 

[Fixer]

I suppose the other advantage of a bigger motor is it helps get around other problems with wire feed.

Yeah thats what the thread is about all the mods I'm doing are to improve wirefeed as there aren't any other problems with the machine.

Can anyone tell me what rpm the original motor runs at? Ive seen dozens of 24v AC motors but the rpms seem to either bein the 30 - 70 rpm OR 3000 - 4000 rpm ranges and nothing inbetween...

I do happen to own some old dewalt 24v tools that are gathering dust because the batteries clapped out ages ago and cost a more than new tools...could i use either the combi drill motor or the one in the circsaw??

 

[Wozzaaah]

Just realised what I suggested, a motor in a cordless drill or other tool would be DC so you'd need to use a rectifier if your transformer was AC (I have loads of bridge rectifiers here if you need one )

 

[shenion]

The wire feed motor is DC.

It is a lot harder to do an AC speed control

 

[tigmann]

A permanent magnet motor is the most powerful small
motor you are likely to find.
I would check the one you already have as it will probably
be this type of motor.

 

[Fixer]

Yes that a good point. all the motors I can find that look suitable don't look any different.

Maybe the thing to do is change the gearing with a different pinion gear to reduce the speed a bit.
This would give more pulling power and enable a slower feed. I must have a look at my machine tonight and see if its possible/easy.