Here is a motor upgrade I did:

Don't expect to save money on this. You'll need motor, power supply, PWM, plug, switch, enclosure, cables... and your time. You want it to look nice and compact and protect it from chips.

But the important thing that variable speed DC is greatly superior to the original motor.

Look for YouTube video by Anthony Shelton titled Unimat SL-1000 Motor Upgrade To 150 Watt. It's the most comprehansive step by step instruction.

On Thu, Aug 22, 2024 at 12:29 PM, Carl wrote:

Find an older sewing machine with an external motor. It will have a foot speed control too.?

Hi:

My SL (much the same as the DB) ran very well on a 130 W DC 24 V motor. The lower wattage motors are a bit shorter than the higher power ones (similar are available up to 200 W) and that keeps them out of the way of? some jobs, and they are a bit faster. Bear in mind that the original motor was rated at about 90 W, so you don't need much more. I would be happy to use a 100 W motor if I was doing the conversion again. With 24 V you can add a very cheap speed controller to the setup, giving a bit more flexibility. I posted pictures and drawings of how I did my conversion - see "Keith's DB_SL" in Photos. There are at least two other conversions described in the photos and files. Exactly how you do it depends on which version of the motor you find. Mine was less then ideal. The shaft was a bit short, and the shaft end was where the brushes are, so I was reluctant to drill into it. Also the motor shaft was ?8, the pulley bore is ?6, and I didn't want to drill it out. Hence I used an adaptor plate for the motor mounting and a stub shaft for the pulley, and it all worked together. It's easier with the brushes and cable at the other end, and the version with a toothed belt pulley gives you a better shaft than the ones with a chain sprocket.

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For power a simple PWM 24 V power supply, wattage to match or exceed your motor, but not by much, will be cheap enough and a simple speed control is very cheap these days. I suggest keeping the power supply separate so there is no mains voltage near the lathe and mount the speed control in a handy place on a board under the lathe. I would also add a small rack for the useful things like tommy bars for the chuck, a hex key (5 mm), and other bits and pieces that keep getting lost. I didn't do this, and I wish I had done.

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My SL has now gone to Australia, so I can't measure and draw the motor pully, but it is the same as the small idler except for something to lock it onto the motor spindle. The original motor has a small pin through the shaft which lodges in a slot on the end face of the pulley and a small screw holds it on. This allows the pulley to be reversed for different speed ranges. My adaptor replaces the pin with two poking out of the adaptor. For details of pulley and belt arrangements for different speeds, and much more information see the manuals and "How To" books in the files section.

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I found idler and motor pulleys on Ebay, both UK and USA. Price doesn't seem too high.

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Post pictures of what you've got so we can judge what you need to do.

There's a few videos on YouTube guys talking about replacing their motors usually with a DC and a variable speed controler.... One city did it for just under 50 bucks but I'm not sure what year that was. Lol

Look on Ebay.? There are 24 volt scooter motors, 100 watt and 150 watt.? Currently you can buy a 100W for $28.99 and 150W for $36.99.

Jon,

Many of us have converted to 150 watt DC motors. Much better and quieter than the original motor and variable speed too.

Dick

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http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION

mailto:calciu1@...
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I'm just getting set up. Not sure what I'll make. Bunch of half formed ideas that I'll have to work out. When I get it all together I'll post some pics.....?

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Hi- Newbie to the world of Emcos, but found this guy at an estate sale. Couldn't resist it.? I've cleaned it up, and nothing seems bent out of true or seized- BUT- it lacks a motor.? I cant afford the $150 ones on ebay.? Is there a substitute that can be used? I'm thinking 120v, 1/10 HP/120watt AC.? ?Anyone got the specs including shaft/pulley size on the standard DB200??

I have used my U3 for a number of things I turned an alternator mounting pivot bushing for? a Mercedes Airport bus now camper Bus owner got bushing actually 2 pressed together with correct ID? turned down OD to fit mount snugly...correct part was available in 2 weeks? with several trials it fit? still working 10years down the road

Turned several delrin? rods to be spacers and end caps for a 2m VHF Ham band antenna.? Made several for friends in local ham club

Turned multiple pens? in both acrylic and wood using the table saw to cut raw blanks to length, drilled using drill chuck, 4 jaw , collet chuck for drills larger than 8mm/ 5/16"? sanded blanks square to brass tubing in center of blank

Using mill to cut new reverse unit lever slot in a Lionel train boiler

Using a geared DCmotor to drive leadscrew reversible variable speed? powered by model train power pack? not elegant but it works

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Ed Samsen

Roy,

Where did you buy your CNC kit for your Unimat conversion?

I would like to do something similar for my Unimat DB200.

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Dick

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http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION

Paul,

I have not sold any jewelry boxes at this point. The boxes I have made to date have been given to my wife. The tops have been engraved with maple leaves which stand proud on the top.

They are a beautiful form but hard to describe.

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http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION

Deal on ebay about to end with a decent price for this

Not currently using mine, but Sunday night I was watching a You-Tube video shop tour - made by a gentleman in Florida who has a shop that makes custom motorcycle handlebars.? Sitting there on one of the work benches was what looked suspiciously like our favorite little green lathe.? He explained that it was used to make small parts if they were needed.

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Don

I don't often use my Unimat 3 but when I do it's very useful, last year I repaired my wife's carding machine - required some fairly accurate drilling and the turning of a piece of wood that needed to be an interference fit into an aluminium cylinder. It's the only machine tool I really have access to since I had a spinal stroke 5 years ago.?