Phil Thien
07-31-2013, 11:07 PM
I always thought that the Milwaukee 3-HP router with remote speed control (for router tables) was neat.
I have a DW618 that lives in the router table/extension wing in an older Rockler (Jessem) lift.
Router table has a downdraft box, and I'm able to perform bit changes above the table.
Changing speeds, though, is a PITA.
Today I was blowing out the router and removed the end-cap, and noticed that the speed control seems to be: (1) Self-contained (potted). (2) Connected via just three wires (I think). (3) Easily removed (the only thing holding it in place is guides molded into the router's casing, I think).
So I'm thinking of making some extension wires, and maybe relocating the speed control (maybe mounting it to the front of the downdraft box).
Has anyone else done anything like this?
Edit to add: Does the speed control release a lot of heat? It is of a decent size, sorta wondering it the router's fan is also used to cool the speed control.
2nd edit to add: The reason I'm thinking of moving this controller outboard, instead of just getting a single-speed router and outboard speed control, is that I believe the DW618 has a tachometer to maintain speed at whatever it is set, even under load. My experience with single speed routers and aftermarket speed controls is that loads can slow them down quite a bit. But with three wires to the control, does it actually have a tach?
3rd edit to add: This control does look to be only three wires and a pretty standard triac, with no tach or other features. So probably going to just bypass the thing and use an external speed control. The router is supposed to be a soft-start, is there something in the speed control that does soft start I assume?
I have a DW618 that lives in the router table/extension wing in an older Rockler (Jessem) lift.
Router table has a downdraft box, and I'm able to perform bit changes above the table.
Changing speeds, though, is a PITA.
Today I was blowing out the router and removed the end-cap, and noticed that the speed control seems to be: (1) Self-contained (potted). (2) Connected via just three wires (I think). (3) Easily removed (the only thing holding it in place is guides molded into the router's casing, I think).
So I'm thinking of making some extension wires, and maybe relocating the speed control (maybe mounting it to the front of the downdraft box).
Has anyone else done anything like this?
Edit to add: Does the speed control release a lot of heat? It is of a decent size, sorta wondering it the router's fan is also used to cool the speed control.
2nd edit to add: The reason I'm thinking of moving this controller outboard, instead of just getting a single-speed router and outboard speed control, is that I believe the DW618 has a tachometer to maintain speed at whatever it is set, even under load. My experience with single speed routers and aftermarket speed controls is that loads can slow them down quite a bit. But with three wires to the control, does it actually have a tach?
3rd edit to add: This control does look to be only three wires and a pretty standard triac, with no tach or other features. So probably going to just bypass the thing and use an external speed control. The router is supposed to be a soft-start, is there something in the speed control that does soft start I assume?