Need help with wiring

[jms@RL]

Hey guys just joined, looking to learn more about metal working, I've done some work with wood lathes and decided to try metal.

My question is this:

I bought a cheap mill/lathe machine from harbor freight and don't like the fact that it has no e-stop. The mill has a start atop button but the lathe is just a dial. I'm worried about in a panic either missing the switch or sending the lathe into reverse by mistake.

I'm thinking about hacking the main power line (110V) and wiring in a start switch and an e-stop. Doing it this way would be simple and effective, plus I could just leave the lathe on forward use the start stop for operation. It will make the mill a little more cumbersome as I'll have 2 start switches to press, but that's not so bad

I was curious what you guys though was a good way to do this that won't cause any long term damage to the motors or the rookie user.

here are pics of the machine and switch I'd like to use

[jalessi]

jms@RL,


The simplest way would be to insert the estop switch on the black or "line" power wire.

See attached image.

Jeff...

[bill south]

If it were me, I think I would design an external estop cicruit to plug the mill into. All it takes is a relay, some wire, an ac plug, and a box. Make it like an extenaion cord but have the estop switch located on your mill or a handy spot.
Wire the relay to be energized during normal operation and wire the hot side of the ac supply to the mill through the normally open contacts (closed on relay energize). Wire the ES switch to the relay coil whic will de-energize when the button is pushed. This will open the relay and break the AC going to the mill. Simple and you don't have to mess with the rat's nest wiring inside the mill.
Hope this helps and WELCOME.
Bill

[Al_The_Man]

The action of the switches shown has to be known, are they all momentary or are any maintained push style? Such as the E_stop button? This will depend on how you set up the E-stop relay.
Al.

[jms@RL]

The machine uses just one power AC line for both motors. Thats why I was thinking of just cutting that wire. It's already external to the machine. the just use a maintained start switch to restore power to the machine when it's pushed. The switch itself would mount to where the black plate is on the bottom left of the machine...