Foot Controlled Variable Speed

Looking to control speed of Gear Motor via Foot Control? (much like you would do with a foot pedal / sewing machine)
Would like to hear options or maybe methods to accomplish this.

Take a look at the following for directional control of an actuator. The actuator shown is linear, but it works with a rotational as well:
robotshop.com/media/files/pd … iagram.pdf
robotshop.com/en/12-vdc-dpdt … =RB-Prg-16

CBenson,

Thanks for the reply.

I have seen the first pedal you posted and having both direction control would really be nice for the project I’m about to start and I actually have one of the Speed Studio pedals right now for another project but my issue is controlling variable speed, much like you do with a sewing machine and it’s foot pedal.
**
**
*push down on the pedal a little bit, it moves slowly… push down further on the pedal and it starts to increase in speed…

The Speed Studio pedal operates in a basic on/off, correct (I’m assuming that the Progressive Automations pedal does as well)?

The project is building basically a mini-lathe using a 12vdc motor, but I’m wanting to control the stop/start+speed (variable speed) of rotation by foot.
*could buy/use a sewing machine AC motor and pedal but I’d rather not if possible.

Both are on/off and do not allow for variable speed. Unfortunately we do not have an analog foot pedal in our catalog at this time, so would suggest the following:

  1. Create your own foot pedal using a rotary potentiometer - this will take some learning about electronics.
  2. add a DC motor controller which accepts analog input - you would vary the speed using a knob, and the pedal would turn the motor on or off. Not ideal since it separates the functions.

I need to set down and take a look at it all but just pondering in my head, I think I may go another route:

Wall power (110VAC) to Foredom Pedal FCT-1
Foredom Pedal to Power Supply (100-220VAC to 12VDC/3A #RB-All-39)
Power Supply to On/Off Switch
On/Off Switch to DC Speed Control #RB-Prg-12
Speed Control to Motor (motor like the #RB-Cyt-33)

Thoughts?

The pedal is essentially the on/off switch. You have the same issue of having the pedal control on/off and a knob control the speed and direction.

Not quite so.

The foredom electronics pedal will allow control over speed, it is not just basic on/off.
The knob control, however; should allow control over Max RPM allowed to motor.
Having the ability for directional control over the motor would be nice but not a must.

Please watch following video, ref. 3:45 mark…
youtube.com/watch?v=3D_AE6eMP-w

Without more research, it’s hard to say how their foot pedal works. If it’s connected to a power supply which converts AC to DC, then you’d still get the same DC voltage output.

That makes a sense.
I will have to do some more looking and reading around about the pedals.