DIY tumbler speed motor control

[johncmng]

Does anyone know if I can use a electric light dimmer to control the speed of this motor? Is it safe? Will it damage the motor?

[stuntdummy]

A dimmer for a ceiling fan might be a better choice.

[welldriller]

speed control

Thats a synchronous motor, the only way to change the speed is to change the frequency of the power source, a dimmer will cause the motor to overheat.
This motor is not designed to work at anything but 1750RPM.
Graingers have DC motors and controllers that are designed for variable speed,
I have one on my plating setup driving a reducing gear then driving the tumbler.

[johncmng]

Thanks welldriller, So the only way to reduce the RPM is to get a bigger gear?

[welldriller]

Yes but it takes a lot of them, for instances, you need a 350 to 1 reduction to get the RPM down to 5 RPM. That is going to take several reductions.
Still the best way is to start with a motor that is going slow then adjust the speed with gears.
I just happened to have the DC motor and a 30:1 gear box laying around that I put together to get my setup going. The motor runs 200 to 300 RPM when plating and around 20 RPM to tumble.
I find it really handy to be able to vary the speed.
I started using some small DC geared motors, try looking for a motor off of a kids electric car, I don't know how they are geared but they have the power to run a tumbler.

[stilly]

Well there ya have it.

I am not an electronic/electrical guy but if I wanted to make my own tumbler or make one or two to sell to the guys I just got into reloading, what would be a good place to start? Graingers? I have always seen and wanted to make my own tumbler and shell sorter and I always see guys that have long rods that spin with an ever increasing gap that sorts out the shells but the one thing that stops me from doing that is that I just do not have any source to get a motor. Well, that is the first step anyways, If all I need to do is get a motor and the rest is bolt together that that is good. But seriously, where would one go to learn about the motors and stuff? Electrical class at a JC?

[lincoln45]

Thanks welldriller, So the only way to reduce the RPM is to get a bigger gear?

i'm using 1 1/2" on the motor and 4" on the "roller" outside spinning very nicley right now!!!!!

IMHO you dont need the two pullies on the other side, away from the motor, just the one on the motor and one the roller by next to the motor. Your drum will turn the second roller just fine. The drum may walk or not spin the second roller when empty but once u have 2 gals of hot water 8 pnds of brass and 10 pnds of steel shot it will be just fine

[lincoln45]

[QUOTE=lincoln45;10513893]i'm using 1 1/2" on the motor and 4" on the "roller" outside spinning very nicley right now!!!!!


IMHO you dont need the two pullies on the other side, away from the motor, just the one on the motor and one the roller by next to the motor. Your drum will turn the second roller just fine. The drum may walk or not spin the second roller when empty but once u have 2 gals of hot water 8 pnds of brass and 10 pnds of steel shot it will be just fine

[CGT80]

Well there ya have it.

I am not an electronic/electrical guy but if I wanted to make my own tumbler or make one or two to sell to the guys I just got into reloading, what would be a good place to start? Graingers? I have always seen and wanted to make my own tumbler and shell sorter and I always see guys that have long rods that spin with an ever increasing gap that sorts out the shells but the one thing that stops me from doing that is that I just do not have any source to get a motor. Well, that is the first step anyways, If all I need to do is get a motor and the rest is bolt together that that is good. But seriously, where would one go to learn about the motors and stuff? Electrical class at a JC?

look up electrical surplus places for motors.

Here is a gear motor. I don't know how much power you really need or how slow you want it.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=5-1770&catname=electric

[stilly]

look up electrical surplus places for motors.

Here is a gear motor. I don't know how much power you really need or how slow you want it.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.as...tname=electric

That is nice but I have a problem with it, If I have my thumler motor with a 3100 rpm motor, how would I make this one go faster? With a belt or gear it up like the others here?

[johncmng]

I tested it out last night. The current RPM is perfect. Tumbler the brass for 2 hours and this is what came out.

[Whiterabbit]

As you already know, can't use a variac to control an AC motor. Need a variable frequency controller. An old dead treadmill is ideal, if you see one.

IIRC, the thumblers is 30 RPM, and the delux high speed cleaner is 40 RPM. I was making a quick guestimate about yours, I'm guessing 55-60 rpm? Clearly it works, and fast.

Dumb question. Looks like your hopper is 6" pvc with caps. One side uses a reducer with a rubber clamp cap. Kinda looks like that, anyways. My question is, do you have any internal baffles?

[johncmng]

@Whiterabbit. you are spot on about 55-60 RPM. Yes, I do have 4 "L" rails inside to agitate the brass and SS media. I will take a picture later

[Whiterabbit]

one more dumb question for you rotary tumblers.

Many of my cases perfectly nest, and it annoys me. Now I tumble everything separately.

With the rotary tumblers, can you tumble nesting brass? Or is it still a one-at-a-time proposition?

[johncmng]

@whiterabit, I haven't tumbled any mixed brass that will nest. So far I tumbled 223s and 308s.