Like many others, my mini lathe controller failed (twice). Obviously not a good design. I just finished an experiment to use a 110V AC to DC motor speed controller off the net as a replacement (a lot cheaper). A bit of work to incorporate into the case and to wire but appears to work perfectly. Time will tell if it lasts.
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Mini Lathe controller replacement
- Thread starter Grit6764
- Start date
A popular upgrade is to change the motor out for a treadmill motor and controller. dazecarz has a great set of videos on this. If you near a large center it is super easy to get treadmills as many people do not want them after they have sat for years. When i was looking for a couple to cannibalize, I found 3 free ones in one weekend. Went in took them to pieces and walked em out. The people were super happy to have the treadmills gone and not one thought to take them apart to get them out of their basement. I traded the motors and controllers to some buddy's. I still have two sets of belts, which work amazing as soft jaws and things like covers for ways and t-slots. Two parts I wish I had kept was the elevation motors as they make great head lift motors for my mill type.
DazeCars, Upgrading shop tools for variable speed
Information on using treadmill motors to drive shop tools
dazecars.com
The real milo
New Member
Shocking that a stock mini lathe board blew up twice lol. Glad you rigged up that cheap AC to DC unit and got it spinning again. Just make sure that little metal box actually gets airflow or a heatsink so you do not cook this board too. Throw an inline fuse before the motor and wire a proper safety switch so it never jumps back on after a power blip.