PowerPro - good news

[riot_nrrd]

Interestingly, the mounting rails on my motor seem to be drilled for only four mounting screws, rather than six... two per side, rather than three per side.

Since it is the outer four (only the middle missing), I am thinking of just hooking it up with four for now and calling Shopsmith in the morning... another option would be drilling and tapping two more holes (I think I have a metric tap and dies set somewhere to do that)....

Any one else run into this?

OK, Update - it looks like they actually did not attach and/or send the mounting adapter rails. The motor has the basic rails (with two threaded holes press the rail to the motor cleats, and another two threaded holes to mount the adapter to the rail), but no adapter to connect via two holes to the motor and three holes to the headstock. So not as simple as just drilling and tapping a new hole, unless I go buy some bar stock and make my own (non-precision measured) adapter.

So it looks like I have FOUND A BUG. :-)

Time to call and see how quickly that part can be sent....

[riot_nrrd]

No ground screw either. And whn hooked up with the ground attached to the device, it twitches, then gets an error and won't run. Methinks I got a stadnard Teknatool Nova DVR motor, rather than a SS modified version.

Oh well, looks like I may have a long call with ShopSmith tomorrow....

[charlese]

Thanks, Gents, for your summaries...

Troy, like you, luckily I had a stepped drill-bit for that power-cord hole, saved me a lot of time.

Chuck, Troy,
For the GFCI "trip," I think it probably has something to do with harmonic small currents in the ground lug. I don't think we're hitting anything near 20A absolute. I suspect the 2-3mA I measured on my ground-lug may have higher peaks or frequencies at a multiple of 60Hz, so that it trips a 5mA GFCI.

Chuck,
For your Bandsaw "chatter," I feared you might get this. I now run my bandsaw on an old Shorty, but I saw some chatter with my heavy Sanding Disk on the Power Pro. I've posted some comments on a couple of other threads recently. I think the speed-control algorithm is hitting a resonant point (repeatedly going slightly above and below 900rpm) when there is a large-diameter "wheel" on the spindle load. This resonance (I'm guessing?) makes the rotational play between quill-shaft and drive-sleeve chatter. This is only my theory now. I wanted to see if other folks had the same observation before getting too excited.

Hi all and Hi chris!!!!! My chattering Power Pro has been completely repaired. Called Shopsmith this morning - told them of my findings so far. Concerning the chattering - IT WAS BAD!!!! It even caused the headstock to vibrate, at sppeds 950 or less. Turned the speed down to 655 RPM and the Chattering/vibration was no longer a harmonic. It was constant - and bad.

Here's the fix -- Customer Service got a fellow named Wes to call me and talk the fix! (yes it was in the control module although it sounded and felt like the headstock was coming apart at those lower RPMs) Wes talked me through a long list of button pushing (sometimes two buttons at the same time) and reading the resulting symbols and numbers. When we finished this exercise the PowerPro was working like a Pro at all speeds!

Concerning my GFCI issue - I have started a plan. First use compressed air to clean out all outlets, then check all connections to make sure they are tight, then trade this particular 20 amp GFCI outlet with the identical one presently hooked to the A/C. If all that doesn't work I'll dispose of the GFCI outlet and instead use a GFCI breaker in the circuit box.

All of my outlets are GFCI protected. All those using GFCI breakers in the box, rather than a GFCI outlet, work very well. Since these work, I have discounted consideration that the ground wire on the headstock motor or on the power switch is loose.

[JPG]

Hi all and Hi chris!!!!! My chattering Power Pro has been completely repaired. Called Shopsmith this morning - told them of my findings so far. Concerning the chattering - IT WAS BAD!!!! It even caused the headstock to vibrate, at sppeds 950 or less. Turned the speed down to 655 RPM and the Chattering/vibration was no longer a harmonic. It was constant - and bad.

Here's the fix -- Customer Service got a fellow named Wes to call me and talk the fix! (yes it was in the control module although it sounded and felt like the headstock was coming apart at those lower RPMs) Wes talked me through a long list of button pushing (sometimes two buttons at the same time) and reading the resulting symbols and numbers. When we finished this exercise the PowerPro was working like a Pro at all speeds!

Concerning my GFCI issue - I have started a plan. First use compressed air to clean out all outlets, then check all connections to make sure they are tight, then trade this particular 20 amp GFCI outlet with the identical one presently hooked to the A/C. If all that doesn't work I'll dispose of the GFCI outlet and instead use a GFCI breaker in the circuit box.

All of my outlets are GFCI protected. All those using GFCI breakers in the box, rather than a GFCI outlet, work very well. Since these work, I have discounted consideration that the ground wire on the headstock motor or on the power switch is loose.

Methinks this bears repeating!!!

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=74141&postcount=35

[riot_nrrd]

I got a request to show what the problem looks like.... so in case anyone else runs into this, here is what it looks like. The red drawing is intended to show the piece that appears to be missing....

[ATTACH]10373[/ATTACH]

There is also a spot on the case that should have a screw for grounding. Instead, the case has a hole that is partially drilled, but not threaded.

[riot_nrrd]

Here's the fix -- Customer Service got a fellow named Wes to call me and talk the fix! (yes it was in the control module although it sounded and felt like the headstock was coming apart at those lower RPMs) Wes talked me through a long list of button pushing (sometimes two buttons at the same time) and reading the resulting symbols and numbers. When we finished this exercise the PowerPro was working like a Pro at all speeds!

Any chance you wrote down those button presses and can share them with others so they can address the problem (if they are having it)?

[nuhobby]

Here's the fix -- Customer Service got a fellow named Wes to call me and talk the fix! (yes it was in the control module although it sounded and felt like the headstock was coming apart at those lower RPMs) Wes talked me through a long list of button pushing (sometimes two buttons at the same time) and reading the resulting symbols and numbers. When we finished this exercise the PowerPro was working like a Pro at all speeds!

Thanks for the great tip, Chuck! Now I'll have to find a way to be at work and be home next to the Power Pro to talk with CS all at the same time....

By the way, have you tried the Steel Sanding disk? Very curious if you now consider it as smooth as with your old headstock mechanism.

[horologist]

The final assembly is now complete (stickers, etc.).

I spoke with Dave, he is sending a switch (What a great company) and is checking into the manual.

Mine had the had the maintenance and troubleshooting section under the Use Instructions tab. I assume there is some sort of users guide for operating the machine. My dad's manual is identical to my own, anyone have a complete manual? One would imagine the thing would be fairly Murphy proof but I hesitate to try too much for fear of inadvertently damaging something.

I'm not sure I want to look under the "Parts Explosion" tab!

My first test was the sanding disk since that seems to be the tool that gives the most trouble. Mine rattled fairly loudly so I scrolled the speed down to about 500 RPM, it didn't make a difference. However after I scrolled the speed to a little over 900 RPM it started running much more quietly and continues to do so after turning the machine on and off.

My work schedule is pretty awful this week so I am done for the evening and will try to get in a little more laundry room time tomorrow.

Troy

[charlese]

RiotNrrd - You definitely need to call Shopsmith! You are missing the outside motor mount aluminum blocks. Look at the video and this will become apparent. If there is no ground screw on the motor there's a big mistake.

No. didn't even attempt to write down the steps taken that repaired the computer part of my machine. The list of steps we took would fill at least 1 1/2 type written pages. -----After thought - If these steps were posted on the forum, they may lead to as many, or more, problems than solutions. Quite complicated! At least to a dummy like me.

nuhobby - Haven't tried the metal sanding disk - but will and will post.

Today, ran the bandsaw for two hours straight. Really Smooth and pretty quiet - then hooked up the DC3300. I love this upgrade! Especially now it is fixed.

Concerning duplex outlets with GFCI. Both of them in my shop just wouldn't keep the PowerPro running. Even turned off the A/C and plugged the PP into that outlet. No dice! - It tripped immediately! Re set the breaker and turned on the A/C. The A/C runs like new!

To solve my problem, I am now running the PowerPro without GFCI. Will add a GFCI breaker to my box and re-connect my most used outlets to this breaker. The other two GFCI breakers in my box support circuits where all those outlets work with the PP.

[riot_nrrd]

Talked to Shopsmith today.... it looks like when they get the motors in, they remove the bars, drill and tap them, and then reinstall. Someone for got the last step of reinstalling them, so they are sending a set.

As far as the ground, they suggested that I just tap the hole and they will send me the screw.

So other than not being able to play with my new toy yet, everything seems to be turning out fine.

For those who are curious about the relationship with Teknatool, I think this has already been discussed, but in case there is any doubt:

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