Question - X2 motor isolation for belt drive

[george4657]

I just finished my conversion of HF X2 to belt drive. When I installed the motor I noticed that the connector plate between the motor and the casting was non conductive so the motor had no ground connection to the ground of the machine. I assume this is for safety reasons.
Are there potential problems if the motor shell is in contact with the rest of the machine?
It works the way it is but is it safe?

George

[Dougal]

My motor has an earth wire attached internally which feeds through the wire to the switch box, then to the rear power supply casing where it is earthed.
I'd expect yours to be similar.

If in doubt, stick a voltmeter between the motor case and mill. If you get 0.0v then it's earthed. If you don't, then worry.

The stock motor mounting on mine is also isolated. It's plastic with no metal-metal connection through.

[george4657]

I checked and my machine is the same. It is grounded through the cable.
I assume the isolation is to prevent ground loops. If I get controller problems I will look at isolating the motor except through the cable.

Thanks
George

[jstiltner]

I would wager that the plastic / phenolic motor mount plate is only there because of cost concerns, Its not a part that would take a large load, so it doesent NEED to be a metal part. Also, there are a few X2s out there that come with metal gears, which would make any insulating properties of the plastic plate pointless.

Have a ball! but good thinking on that one!

[Starleper1]

No need to isolate. I use aluminum on the kits I build and never had any problems.