Solid Wood Machining

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat 500

2/12/16       
James Member

Website: http://www.ctihospitality.com/

Hello all!

I have a Weinig Powermat 500 that has an unaligned infeed bed, and am wondering if anyone can tell me how to level it? It's out at least 3/16", higher on the machine end. When moved all the way up to 0, it actually sits above the head, and bed.

We are having an issue when running any hardwood over 6" wide where the motor will bog down and kick the breaker, even when running the machine as slow as it will run. Could the unaligned bed be the cause of this too? Seems like it could, since the head and feed would be working against each other?

Thanks for any input!


View higher quality, full size image (650 X 890)

2/12/16       #2: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
James Member

Oops, accidentally posted the wrong image! Lol, kids coloring pages :-)


View higher quality, full size image (3264 X 1836)

2/12/16       #3: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

Website: http://www.mr-moulding-knives.com

James
First thing I would do is tighten the belt on the first bottom spindle, the bogging down sound you explain will most likely go away with the proper belt tension, they tend to stretch over time.

To adjust the infeed bed parallel you will have to adjust the eccentric round cams, two on the face side and two on the back side, they generally are held in place by a allen set screw, the back two set screws may be hiding under the infeed adjustable fence. The adjustable cams usually have a couple of holes to fit a special tool into to adjust. Take a pen or pencil and mark half way thru the cam and onto the casting of the machine. This way you know where you started and will know which way to move the cam. Adjust the cams slowly in small increments being careful not to get them in a bind. Once parallel tighten the set screws and scribe a small line with a nail on the cam and casting so you know where the table is level just in case they get out of parallel again.
I hope that helps
All the best
Russ

2/15/16       #4: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
James Member

Website: http://www.ctihospitality.com

Thanks for the response, and info on aligning the bed, I just finished!

As far as the motor goes, it's a brand new belt and it's tight as a drum! We even took some emry cloth and roughed up the surface of the shaft, and it made no difference. The new belt I just put on was even twice as wide as the old one, and it didn't change at all.

It's a 7.5hp motor, running 6k rpm, which I would think would be plenty especially with a spiral head, but it just can't handle any amount of real work. The motor gets so hot that you could fry an egg on it! The owner put a meter on it when we were running a piece of Hard Maple that was 6" wide, and were taking 1/8" off and he said it was pulling the full amp load.

It almost sounds to me like it's not phasing up if that's even possible?? Maybe it's just a bad motor?? The machine is a 2005 model with very low hours on it, it's almost like new in fact. Weinig said that they have never heard of this issue before with the 7.5hp motor, and that it should be more than enough, any thoughts from any of you guys??

Thanks!!

2/15/16       #5: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

James
Call Weinig, talk to James or Ron in tech support. Have your electrical meter with you when you call so they can run you thru some test.
What your describing is not normal with the heat of the motor.
Glad you were able to align of the infeed table.
All the best
Russ

2/15/16       #6: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
Jason

James I only ask this because sometimes simple things get overlooked, not to insult your intelligence. How sharp are the knives on that head?

2/15/16       #7: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

James
I would order an original thin black belt from Weinig for that spindle.

Open the electrical cabinet, there are timers on the motors that are set to go on after about 15 seconds or so after you press start. It Flashes when you first start the motor then stays lit and brings the motor to full rpm (soft start)
Just make sure your motor is going to the next stage. I not an electrician so my knowledge is very limited.

Are you sure the cutterhead is not on backwards? it may sound dumb but it is something we have all done in our careers.

Remember the one who makes the most mistakes, has the most experience :)

Call me if you wish, I will see if I can assist you further, contact info on my website.
Russ

2/16/16       #8: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
James Member

Website: http://www.ctihospitality.com

Thank you for the responses!

Jason, the spurs were just changed about a week and a half ago, so we're good there.

Well, it appears that leveling the bed actually did help the problem with the head bogging. We just got done running 300' of some 9" wide Hard Maple and I was able to take a full 3/16" off the bottom and run it at 30 fpm without issue. Before, even running as slow as the machine would run we would have to jog boards through one at a time of that size.

The problem isn't fixed though. I'm assuming that the bed being out of alignment was causing the motor to work extra hard and is why it would bog out before. Although it ran decent now, the motor still gets screaming hot. I went and watched for the timer like you suggested, and it's not even on for the first bottom. I shut everything off and just started the first bottom, and neither of the lights go on and it never clicks in like the rest do. I'm guessing that this probably means the timer is faulty.

Russ, do you think it will be an issue if I leave the larger belt on? It's actually a spare for our Powermat 1000. The original thin black belt is still in really good shape, we just thought it was slipping and that a bigger one would correct it.


View higher quality, full size image (1080 X 1920)

2/16/16       #9: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

James
I would put the original black belt back on the first bottom.
As far as the electrical goes call James Krouse or Ron Bear at Weinig tech support and explain what's going on, they are awesome, I am sure they will be able to track down the issue.
Sounds like something with the two stage timer. That's just a guess, I really don't have a clue when it comes to electrical
All the best
Russ

2/16/16       #10: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

James
FYI - when you say 7.5hp it's really a 10 HP.
Germany rates the motor in KW kilowatts
So here is the american conversion
German KW X 1.36 = American horsepower

Just thought you would like to know this for future use.

Please post on your finish results
Thanks
Russ

2/16/16       #11: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
James Member

Website: http://www.ctihospitality.com

Thanks for the tip Russ! I didn't know that.

It looks like we have a faulty timer. I swapped out the one from the last bottom and tried it and it did not work there, but the first bottom now performs as it should.

Thanks again for all your help! It is very much appreciated!!!

James

2/16/16       #12: Level infeed bed on Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

Awesome
I am pleased you found the cause!

Many people at Weing helped me throughout my career.
I feel like I owe it to the clients to be helpful, they are the ones that keep us all successful.

All the best
Russ


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)