Home-made pottery wheel

Pottery wheel project.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Repair

[brianyensen]

I am trying to build my own pottery wheel but I cannot figure out how to mount the wheel/shaft. can you post a diagram of the parts and pieces needed for your shaft? O cannot figure out where the weight rests on these pieces.

[MakeItAtShop]

@brianyensen the order of parts, going from wheel head to bottom of shaft is: Wheel head on a 1" shaft, 1 inch bronze flanged bushing, corian top, 10" pulley w connection, two bronze bushings (one 1" inside dimension, 1 1/4" outside. one 5/8" inside, 1" outside, fitted together), pillowblock bearing, another pillowblock bearing, end of 5/8" shaft.

I hope this helps.

[zeussaurabh]

can u tell me whats the motor rating? like current, voltage, frequency of AC, motor rated speed and rated power.. i have an ac motor from a REEEAALLY OLD hard disc (yes ! AC motor) with ratings as 115V, 50Hz, 0.7 A, 2850RPM and 1/20 HP.. i wonder if i can use it to make a potters wheel with speed around 400-500 rpm (using pulley and belt arrangement to reduce speed)... BTW, is 400-500 rpm a sufficient speed for a potters wheel ?

thanks...

[MakeItAtShop]

@zeussaurabh about yor original question: I did have an AC motor when I began this project, but to put on switch that controls the speed, and maintains adequate torque (especially at low speeds) is either impossible or VERY expensive (believe me I asked a lot of those in the motor industry). DC "permanent magnet" motors are made for this work, the power is converted from AC by a controler. (think of youself on a treadmill going slow, they can take you on an incline all day long)

[MakeItAtShop]

I've since learned to make the motor turn the otherway (thanks again to the internet), it only cost about 8 dollars in material.

[MakeItAtShop]

I guess I didn't consider the wheel direction. I don't think you can change direction on a DC permanent magnet motor. If someone out there knows for sure, I'd love an answer. In regards to the pulleys; they were bought new and are fitted to both shafts (motor and wheel head) with compression fittings. Thanks for your feedback.

[zeussaurabh]

oops.. didnt notice its a dc motor..

[MyLilTribe]

Great job! Lets see you throwing!

[wildmudpottery]

oops! waltpark was right . It should turn Counter clockwise. You can still learn to throw on it though. Apologies. Still a great wheel. Some countries potters throw on a clockwise wheel with no problem.

[wildmudpottery]

@MakeItAtShop The wheel looks to be turning correctly. It should be turning clockwise. I've been a potter for 40 years so I know. The tag on the motor will probably say CW (clockwise). Great job. a comparable commercial wheel would be between 800 and 1000 dollars.