georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 17:19:07 GMT -5
As some of you know I recently built my first tumbler, it seemed to be running fine but it's been binding up at slow speeds(doesn't seem to want to go below 50-60 rpm) I think I have identified the issue as the drive shaft and the non driven being too far apart. I am using a Lortone 12lb barrel. I was hoping that someone here may be using the proper tumbler for this barrel(qt12/qt66) and would so kind as to measure the distance between the 2 shafts. It would be a great help. Hope all your projects are going well. Here's a pic of some cool product my wife and I go in today. Can you name them??
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 26, 2017 18:05:49 GMT -5
QT66 here 5 inches exactly center of shaft to center of shaft
How are you controlling the speed on your tumbler ?
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 18:09:39 GMT -5
Motor I acquired (from my work at a great price runs at 5k rpm 1/4hp) and I used a household dimmer knob(added a knob lock to hold in place) I'm hoping the shaft adjustment helps, if not I'm going to have to move from a direct drive to a pulley, which is ok but basically going to have to rebuild if that's the case. I really appreciate your help on the measurement!! I'm gonna reset it this weekend and I will let you know how it goes!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 26, 2017 18:10:00 GMT -5
I have a home built running (3) lortone 12 pound barrels and also have (2) lortone QT12 tumblers running. My shaft spacing on my home built is 3.5 inches and the spacing on the stock Qt12 is 5". My homebuilt has been running for years non stop with zero issues but I also have a large 1/3 hp motor on it so no issues turning barrels.
Chuck
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 18:10:47 GMT -5
QT66 here 5 inches exactly center of shaft to center of shaft How are you controlling the speed on your tumbler ? Much appreciated!
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 18:11:03 GMT -5
I have a home built running (3) lortone 12 pound barrels and also have (2) lortone QT12 tumblers running. My shaft spacing on my home built is 3.5 inches and the spacing on the stock Qt12 is 5". My homebuilt has been running for years non stop with zero issues but I also have a large 1/3 hp motor on it so no issues turning barrels. Chuck Much appreciated!
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Post by toiv0 on Apr 26, 2017 18:30:51 GMT -5
Might your motor locking up at the lower rpm, wrong ohm dimmer switch or too much torque to reduce a 5000 rpm motor to such a low rpm. You are going to get some reduction from the diameter of your driven to the diameter of your barrel. Say for instance a 1 in shaft to a 10 in barrel you will reduce at full speed the barrel to 500 rpm. So now you have to reduce that 90 percent to get it to 50 rpm. I am not an electrician but I believe the motor running at 10 percent or so of its capacity doesn't have any torque. Just a thought.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 18:33:09 GMT -5
Might your motor locking up at the lower rpm, wrong ohm dimmer switch or too much torque to reduce a 5000 rpm motor to such a low rpm. You are going to get some reduction from the diameter of your driven to the diameter of your barrel. Say for instance a 1 in shaft to a 10 in barrel you will reduce at full speed the barrel to 500 rpm. So now you have to reduce that 90 percent to get it to 50 rpm. I am not an electrician but I believe the motor running at 10 percent or so of its capacity doesn't have any torque. Just a thought. I have considered this too, hopefully the distance change solve the problem, if not, it's time to rebuild. Trial is fine with me, I love figuring things out, it's the error part that's a b****!
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Post by youp50 on Apr 26, 2017 18:40:15 GMT -5
5000 rpm motor is fast.
Does the drive shaft 'pull' the barrel away from the idler shaft?
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 18:44:48 GMT -5
5000 rpm motor is fast. Does the drive shaft 'pull' the barrel away from the idler shaft? Nope, it's dialed down via a potentiometer/rheostat/dimmer knob. The issue(I believe) is the shafts being too far apart(confirmed by previous comment) or possibly the reduction in power is causing the motor to not have enough power to keep it going at slow speeds. Or a combination of the 2.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 26, 2017 18:53:29 GMT -5
5000 rpm motor is fast. Does the drive shaft 'pull' the barrel away from the idler shaft? Nope, it's dialed down via a potentiometer/rheostat/dimmer knob. The issue(I believe) is the shafts being too far apart(confirmed by previous comment) or possibly the reduction in power is causing the motor to not have enough power to keep it going at slow speeds. Or a combination of the 2. Torque may be the issue. What spacing are your shafts set to currently? Chuck
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 18:54:31 GMT -5
Nope, it's dialed down via a potentiometer/rheostat/dimmer knob. The issue(I believe) is the shafts being too far apart(confirmed by previous comment) or possibly the reduction in power is causing the motor to not have enough power to keep it going at slow speeds. Or a combination of the 2. Torque may be the issue. What spacing are your shafts set to currently? Chuck About 7-8 inches. Bad decision on my part.
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Post by youp50 on Apr 26, 2017 18:55:19 GMT -5
I cannot see a problem with the shaft spacing if it is pulling the barrel past the idler. Rolling into the idler could bind it. I do think toivo hit the nail.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Apr 26, 2017 19:29:31 GMT -5
Just want to say, thanks for the input everybody!! Great group here! Glad I joined.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 26, 2017 21:44:12 GMT -5
A dimmer is made to control the brightness of an incandescent light and the output from the dimmer is not suitable for controlling a motor. You are looking for a Fan Speed Control which is made to control an AC Induction Motor which is likely what you are using. Usually sold for Ceiling Fans.
For the ultimate control over speed and to decrease electricity usage, you should use a DC Motor along with a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) speed control. This will provide plenty of power and you will be able to control the sped into much smaller RPMs, plus DC motors pull half the power compared to an equivalent AC style so are more economical.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on May 7, 2017 11:48:58 GMT -5
Spacing seems to have fixed the issue. Thanks all for the input. Much appreciate. Bought another tumbler when I was drinking last night. I will now have 3 3lb barrels, 2 6lb barrels, and a 12lb. I think I may have a problem. Haha!
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