1cargarage
Well-known member
I have:
1960s Darra James USA benchtop drill press
1/2 HP, 1725/min Maytag 125V AC motor
Pulley driven w/ 3 speeds (840/min being the lowes)
Same model as this one:
I don't have:
230V 3-phase
VFD
Square footage to spare
I want:
Same drill press (its footprint & robustness is ideal for my needs)
Variable speed w/ ability to get down to ~100/min w/o losing torque.
No belts & pulleys that I have to change. (I hate changing belts/pulleys & my machine is left at its lowest setting 99% of the time just like you)
The internet offers no shortage of different ways that people have found to create variable/semi-variable speed control from fixed rpm AC motors (jackshafts, VFDs, DC treadmill motors, Reeves drives, etc.), but a well-documented variable speed (continuous) via flow rate or pressure, drill press (or any machine requiring rotary power/control) driven by a hydraulic motor has not been found.
Disclaimer: My experience with hydraulic systems consists of ~5 years on a farm running tractors & heavy equipment - 100% engine driven systems used for controlling pull-behind implements via sticks and/or electric switches from the driver's seat. I've never built/configured a hydraulic system, and in use, never indoor, electrically driven systems used for rotary power/motion.
The appeal of hydraulic motors (to me) is that they're super compact, gold medalists in the stout category, and require *no* maintenance. Also, hydraulics are awesome.
Initial investment might be high (Central shop pump/reservoir), but tapping into a system once its in place sounds like a real benefit.
The downsides I have observed of electrically driven hydraulic systems are:
Components are extremely expensive when bought new
Getting hoses made isn't exactly cheap or convenient
Can be dangerous when not configured properly
Did I mention expensive?
Being in Southern California, there are plenty of listings in the local online marketplaces for hydraulic components (pumps, rams, motors, etc) that can be had for pennies on the dollar compared to their brand new counterparts.
Anybody here running hydraulically driven (rotary) machines in the shop? How's it work? What does it take? Effective?
Thanks
1960s Darra James USA benchtop drill press
1/2 HP, 1725/min Maytag 125V AC motor
Pulley driven w/ 3 speeds (840/min being the lowes)
Same model as this one:
I don't have:
230V 3-phase
VFD
Square footage to spare
I want:
Same drill press (its footprint & robustness is ideal for my needs)
Variable speed w/ ability to get down to ~100/min w/o losing torque.
No belts & pulleys that I have to change. (I hate changing belts/pulleys & my machine is left at its lowest setting 99% of the time just like you)
The internet offers no shortage of different ways that people have found to create variable/semi-variable speed control from fixed rpm AC motors (jackshafts, VFDs, DC treadmill motors, Reeves drives, etc.), but a well-documented variable speed (continuous) via flow rate or pressure, drill press (or any machine requiring rotary power/control) driven by a hydraulic motor has not been found.
Disclaimer: My experience with hydraulic systems consists of ~5 years on a farm running tractors & heavy equipment - 100% engine driven systems used for controlling pull-behind implements via sticks and/or electric switches from the driver's seat. I've never built/configured a hydraulic system, and in use, never indoor, electrically driven systems used for rotary power/motion.
The appeal of hydraulic motors (to me) is that they're super compact, gold medalists in the stout category, and require *no* maintenance. Also, hydraulics are awesome.
Initial investment might be high (Central shop pump/reservoir), but tapping into a system once its in place sounds like a real benefit.
The downsides I have observed of electrically driven hydraulic systems are:
Components are extremely expensive when bought new
Getting hoses made isn't exactly cheap or convenient
Can be dangerous when not configured properly
Did I mention expensive?
Being in Southern California, there are plenty of listings in the local online marketplaces for hydraulic components (pumps, rams, motors, etc) that can be had for pennies on the dollar compared to their brand new counterparts.
Anybody here running hydraulically driven (rotary) machines in the shop? How's it work? What does it take? Effective?
Thanks
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