Metalworking lathe does not work?

Question

I have a Cummins 7x12 mini metal lathe. It is a great machine but the motor speed controller has died. The motor on the lathe only runs at full speed or sometimes won't run at all. The motor will run normal for a while but then it will die without blowing the fuse. I replaced the rheostat and both MOSFET transistors already and nothing has changed. I don't want to try to replace anything on the speed control anymore because of how easy the machine broke when the problems started happening. I was machining aluminum stock with a sharp cutter when the cutter took to deep of a cut and got stuck around the workpiece. The motor instantly shut down and I figured all that had happened was that the fuse had failed. I replaced the 4amp fuse with a new one and it seemed alright for a while. Then a few minutes later, the machine was going full speed and blew another fuse.

Now, I want to replace the entire speed control but not spend $120. Can I possibly modify a wood router speed control?

Answer 1

Well, as you know, wood routers run MUCH faster than metal lathes.

Now that doesn't exclude your being able to use the controller from the router, but it doesn't mean it's a slam dunk, either.

We simply do not have enough information to difinitively say whether you can use your router controller for your lathe - we would need more information about each of the motors in question.