[southernexplore]

I just received a PM20 with the long table and the front plate is marked 750 watts for the motor power but I doubt it is really that strong. I was asjusting the rpm pot on the control board and was wondering what the max RPM should be. I have it set at 3500 RPM right now but it will go much higher. I think I seen upwards of 5000 RPM when I first turned it but backed it back down until I found out more about the maximum. I do not think the small plastic gear can handle to many RPM. Has anyone else raised the RPM and where did you stop?

Thanks,
Tommy

[hoss2006]

That's high compared to what other pm machines have maxed at, 3300 being the peak
rpm reached by cranking the pot.
Do you have a handheld tach to verify it?
I wouldn't subject those gears to more than 3500 for any length of time.
Hoss

[southernexplore]

The handheld tach is reading within 1-2 rpm's of the machine's tach. I even thought the machine tach was wrong. I was worried that the gears would not hold up very long so I kept it at 3500 RPM. The plastic gear is the one I am really worried about. As soon as I get the lathe I ordered I am going to start modifying the spindle and get rid of the gears and hopefully put some better bearings in the spindle.

Thanks Hoss for the heads up. I think the spindle will go close to 6000RPM the way it is. When I ordered the machine it was tagged as a PM20 but came with the big table and also the larger spindle motor but the motor does not have any markings or a tag on it.