Wood bandsaw conversion

[grim_d]

I have an elektra beckum wood bandsaw that owes me £40, I had aspirations about converting it to metal cutting.

It had a 3/4 hp motor on it which I have swapped with a 1.5hp Treadmill motor with a PWM controller.

In my haste I didn't do any maths and unfortunately even at it slowest it's still a little too fast at about 430 FPM.

If I squeeze an intermediate pulley in there I can probably get it down to about 180 FPM which is fine for the vast majority of steel/aluminium etc but still a little too fast for anything more exotic like stainless.

If I make some elaborate system with an external second intermediate pulley that would get me to about 45 FPM...bingo...but I don't want to do that.

Making some sort of sleeve to increase the diameter of the pulley on the band wheel is a possibility but I think I only have enough room to get to about 100 FPM....which could work...if I do have the room.

Other options from the hive mind? Worst case scenario is I have a variable speed wood bandsaw.

 

[Maker]

Worm gearbox, get it going proper slow.

 

[Fazerruss]

Pictures are required to make suggestions.
Here's my conversion thread if it helps for inspiration.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/bandsaw-improvement.84205/

 

[grim_d]

Worm gearbox, get it going proper slow.

Depends on one coming up cheap at the right reduction, there's a 30-1 on eBay but that gives me the same problem the other way, even with the motor going at 4800rpm it wouldn't be fast enough.

Probably need a 10-1

Pictures are required to make suggestions.
Here's my conversion thread if it helps for inspiration.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/bandsaw-improvement.84205/

It's much the same as yours, generic hobby wood bandsaw, at least 20 years old as metabo absorbed elektra beckum in 2000.

Sadly my Kopp was attached to my rapidor when I sold it!

 

[graffian]

I have forgotten all the ratios and speeds, but I think i decided with fixed motor speed I wanted something
like 30:1
I have a 22T gear and had intended on making a worm to go with it, then using a 3phase
motor and VFD.

 

[frank horton]

I have to do something similar but mine hase to move 2x6mx6m steel hanger type doors.....
my plan is to use an old fashioned m/cylce gearbox...between the motor and the driven part.....
ur choice how u connect em together, chain or belts...
that way u can sort the gear ratio out best suited for the job...
BUT top gear is norm direct drive/straight thru so u can go back to standard ratio's....
will take a bit of cobbling up and welding ...
but thats what we do isnt it

 

[Fazerruss]

Although the Kopp is very nice to have, the reduction ratio I gained isn't massive. If you you can get the big enough difference in driven and driver pulleys then the desired speed is in reach. Besides pulleys you will just need some pillow bearings and you could fit the motor underneath like mine with a pulley and shaft set up like the Kopp on mine.