Shopsmith Forums

Was in the shop today...tool was on but idle and i was across the room.

Heard a Pop and possibly saw a flash and the circuit tripped.

Reset everything and all tools came back on except the Powerpro.

Nothing on the display when toggle switched is flipped.

I did tear it apart enough to determine that the switch is fine.

Any thoughts?

I've already sent an email off to SS..but have to wait till Mon i guess :/

b

bainin wrote:Was in the shop today...tool was on but idle and i was across the room.

Heard a Pop and possibly saw a flash and the circuit tripped.

Reset everything and all tools came back on except the Powerpro.

Nothing on the display when toggle switched is flipped.

I did tear it apart enough to determine that the switch is fine.

Any thoughts?

I've already sent an email off to SS..but have to wait till Mon i guess :/

b

Probably your power supply. Typical symptoms for the failure. Is it a SS built or a DIY? It will be interesting to see how SS handles it.
Please keep us posted.

How old it the PP? A P/S inspection will probably show a cap blown (should be obvious).

Sorry to hear about it.

Thanks for the quick response. Doesnt sound like I'll be doing much for awhile.

This was a DIY upgrade i think.


The driver box says 10-May-13...I assume that means 2013?
Also have notes from previous owner that they had it factory serviced Aug 2018.

b

I did get someone on the phone briefly this morning.

Since it is a used system-no warranty. If my suspicion is correct that it is the
driver/power supply module (the sealed black box with heatsink fins just after the main power switch) ...it is $572 . Ouch.


Still waiting for a call back from the repair group - but if I have no recourse beyond this--I may just tear it open to see if I can see a blown cap or something similar.

Does anyone know if there is a starter Cap on the motor itself in these units?


PS SS will be closed after today (3/23) until April 6th due to Covid.


Regards,

B

DVR motors don't have starting capacitors -- they're basically stepper motors with sophisticated drive electronics.

Re. the April 6 date for Shopsmith to reopen, I wouldn't bet on it. That's when Ohio's new shelter-in-place order nominally expires, but the state left the date wide open to change.

bainin wrote:I did get someone on the phone briefly this morning.

Since it is a used system-no warranty. If my suspicion is correct that it is the
driver/power supply module (the sealed black box with heatsink fins just after the main power switch) ...it is $572 . Ouch.


Still waiting for a call back from the repair group - but if I have no recourse beyond this--I may just tear it open to see if I can see a blown cap or something similar.

Does anyone know if there is a starter Cap on the motor itself in these units?


PS SS will be closed after today (3/23) until April 6th due to Covid.


Regards,

B

This is what really gives me pause about ever buying a PowerPro headstock. If the power supply module replacement really is $572 from Shopsmith it seems like extreme price gouging to me (thought I saw a previous thread where someone posted that this module was only $350 previously from Shopsmith). Based on a couple of decades of experience in designing electronics, I can't imagine the raw components of the power supply module cost more than about $50-75 all totaled. Accounting for assembly and company overhead & profit, a price of around $200-250 would be more than generous for this module (IMHO). I would have to go through the BOM and price it out to be sure though. Given the fact that the PowerPro doesn't seem to be as reliable as the original headstock (based on posts I have seen here), I think it is unfortunate that Shopsmith is charging so much for replacement parts for it since many PowerPro users don't even get a decade of use out of it before repairs are needed. For me, a key advantage of the PowerPro is the ability to reverse and the lower RPM range for woodturning. If I get good enough at woodturning, I will likely purchase a Laguna REVO 18 | 36 lathe or similar rather than upgrade to the PowerPro.

This might be what you are referring to RFGuy -
I will have to have another call with SS...

#255721 by fredsheldon » Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:37 am

I sent in my Power Supply and Display only and SS sent them out to the supplier to be tested and/or repaired. I received both back after a couple of weeks and reinstalled them along with the motor back into my backup headstock. It now runs and the display works again. SS didn't inform me exactly what was repaired when asked, but I don't really care since it works again. My unit was over 5 years old and well used. I was charged $350, including return shipping. It cost $45 to ship to SS.
Fred Sheldon

I was able to speak with Sue in the repair dept at SS right before they closed.
It sounds like I have a power supply/driver problem as suggested above.

I have the choice of buying a new power supply , or sending this one in for evaluation. If it is fixable, it is typically around $350 compared to the new price above of $572.

The difference being the amount of time out of operation on my end .

Either way- i cant do much until they come back in the office.

b

Received a call back from SS on 5/6. Repair team is back and working thru a pile of RMAs.

They verified that my powerPro power supply has died.

It will be sent off to FL for repair-could be awhile before
I am back in operation here.

Repair is $350 (unknown return date), new is $572 (1 week) .

I'm opting for the $350..hopefully that will end the expenses.

They sent it to Florida? Apparently they sent it to Teknatool in Tampa which is the company that produces the Nova lathes which use the same electronics and motors. If mine fails I may call Teknatool first but I doubt that they would work on because it is a Shopsmith product. Shopsmith developed the PP in conjunction with Teknatool.
Bill V