Welding something with an electric motor

admin

Probably a silly question, but best I ask it.My wife (the artist) was given one of those pottery wheels. The things you sit at to make pots - think Demi Moore in that scene from Ghost.It has a 1/4 hp electric motor.It's about 30 years old and needs some repairs to the frame. Apart from that it's fine.Is it a problem welding something that has an electric motor sitting in it? I can't imaging why it would be, but I would hate to go ahead and do it and find that somehow by welding it I have buggered the motor. (I would of course then have to tell the wife that the motor didn't work to start with.)ScottYeah, I carry.House keys, wallet, some change, usually a newspaper, maybe a pen.
Reply:Just don't clamp off to the shaft  is all..
Reply:Well, no problem to weld the fame with the electric motor attached in the frame, I supose that is DC motor with permanent magnetics. Check if the frame hold nails as a magnetic. the problem may be the electronic circuit that drive these motor. Some surge may damage the semiconductors.Regards Newton
Reply:And, making sure it's not plugged in while welding on it might be a good thing too.It's not what you can buy, it's what you can build.
Reply:Yes, I suspected having it plugged in might not be wise.Newton, I'm not sure whether a 30 year old simple electric motor would have any electronic circuits. It looks pretty simple.And Sandy, I always treat the shaft with respect.Yeah, I carry.House keys, wallet, some change, usually a newspaper, maybe a pen.
Reply:Yes, good thing is umplug the pottery well cord do you mind a photo of foot pedal?? the motor has carbon brushes ?do not connect the grounding  welding cable to the shaft or to the disc.
Reply:Just clamp the ground wire directly to the piece that you are welding and everything will be fine.
Reply:All done.Works perfectly.Wife is pleased.Shaft is sure to get a good workout.Yeah, I carry.House keys, wallet, some change, usually a newspaper, maybe a pen.
Reply:Originally Posted by scott brunsdonProbably a silly question, but best I ask it.My wife (the artist) was given one of those pottery wheels. The things you sit at to make pots - think Demi Moore in that scene from Ghost.It has a 1/4 hp electric motor.It's about 30 years old and needs some repairs to the frame. Apart from that it's fine.Is it a problem welding something that has an electric motor sitting in it? I can't imaging why it would be, but I would hate to go ahead and do it and find that somehow by welding it I have buggered the motor. (I would of course then have to tell the wife that the motor didn't work to start with.)Scott
Reply:Scott;You're lucky you're down there where you have a steady supply of strong 'roos. (Although I still don't understand how you all, the 'roos included, don't get headaches from standing on your heads all the time).Anyway, you need a large motor with a heavy army-sure and either a large shaft or a large, wiiiide pulley. An early DC motor of high power, but not too high voltage, is probably best, provided it has some residual mangatism or you know how to remangetize it a bit; I assume you want DC output 'cause jury-rigged AC is harder to control, especially the freakency of it.Now, what you need next is some long, strong but thin line you can attach to the army-chewer or pullery. You need to be able to get the shaft to spin, but need to also have the line release from it so the 'roos don't steal the motor when they find out how much fun this all is. BTW, you'll need a second line to attach to yourself so, if the roos keep running, they won't get away from you.Once you've done this, you hook your leads to the line terminals of the motor and insert your electrode in the holder. (I forgot to tell you-To change from reverse to straight DC, you can either change the residual magnetism, the direction the shaft turns, or which lead you hook to the electrode.) [Don't try to change the 'roo; I think they're all straight, even though that pouch thing is kinda kinky] Now comes the hard part; you need to train the 'roos to run, on your command. Remember to get everything all set up, then give the command, and when they run, the shaft will turn, you'll have power and you will be "welding something with an electric motor".Just one more thing; remember your duty cycle isn't as long as you've probably read about for American welders (or weldors, for that matter).Last edited by Oldiron2; 07-21-2009 at 10:01 PM.
Reply:If I have to weld on motors. I take all the leads, and the ground to the motor case, and connect them all to ground or the part I am welding. This has worked well for me. Now the whole motor case and windings is connected to the same polarity. And is one object.Sometimes I weld transportation brackets for large fans. If you forget to weld some part of it. Or there is a change order after you bolt it all on. You often are inclined to weld on the unit. Some of them get really big.       Sincerely,             William McCormick
Reply:McCormick - What's with the fan and  hub?Is it reversible, or variable pitch?
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepMcCormick - What's with the fan and  hub?Is it reversible, or variable pitch?
Reply:Originally Posted by scott brunsdonNewton, I'm not sure whether a 30 year old simple electric motor would have any electronic circuits. It looks pretty simple.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepMcCormick - What's with the fan and  hub?Is it reversible, or variable pitch?