Surface Grinder Pneumatic Feed WIP

Ok, no update yet on the valve but a couple other things.

First, the thing that looks like a switch, opposite the real switch where the wooden cam is, is a tensioner of some sort to keep pressure on the cam so it doesn't move and activate the switch without the cam having actually been tripped.

pneumatic_feed9_zps1gviqyrk.jpg


Now onto the wiring of this thing. Taking a look at pics I took before I started taking things apart, it is obvious that this was wired for 110V. So maybe this would actually work on 110V (well I guess it must if the gentlemen wired it this way). So I am tempted to rewire it the same way and give it a go. Here is a better pic of the switch wiring. Seems simple enough. Red wires went to the old motor and through the smaller toggle switch, power if feed to the solenoid. (goes to the other box first where the cam switch can cycle power to the solenoid on and off) Clear as mud right? ;)

pneumatic_feed10_zps0t0ygb8m.jpg


But what I want to know first is is there any danger doing this? To the electronics and more importantly to yours truly? :(

Anyone knows?

Thanks
 
Patrice - you might put 110vac on the solenoid just to see if it doesn't work. It just might be enough voltage to work. Sure won't hurt anything to try the lower voltage. Higher voltage than coil is rated for will hurt, but not lower voltage.

Us "older" folks are encouraged to work crossword puzzles to keep the brain active - isn't this kind of stuff a LOTS more fun? I sure think so.

Good luck and have fun learning.

Ken H>
 
We're getting there.

Got the switches sorted out so that I have 120V at the solenoid, on and off with the cam cycling.
But nothing happened...:(

So I took the valve apart in case it was a mechanical failure or just old weasel snot keeping things from moving freely.



There was indeed weasel snot in there but not sure that was enough to keep the valve from working. I still gave it a good cleaning and put things back together. And this time I used the blowgun to supply air instead of hooking up with the air fitting. And voila, it worked...for about 10 seconds. That is, until the pressure supplied by my small compressor dropped. So at least I know the components are ok and the 120V supplied is enough.
What is not enough is the air pressure. No idea how much I would need.
My small compressor is a small Rolair (very quiet) but output is only 3.8CFM@40PSI and 2.35CFM @90PSI Haven't tried it at max output but I am pretty sure that is not enough since I don't even have it connected to the chuck yet.

If anyone has any idea the range of CFM I would need that'd be great. Hadn't planned on buying a compressor but if I do eventually I need to know what size I need.

Thanks again for you help and following along.
 
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