When i was 11, my school had arranged for a potter to set up his apparatus in our campus and let us work on his pottery wheel. We were 55 students. So our ‘exposure’ to pottery was no longer than one could get a glimpse at ‘mata vaishno devi’ in peak hours. But unlike the devotee who goes home satisfied, i was restless and curious.
Since then, i always wanted to work on a pottery wheel. As i grew up, i also became interested in making machines. Last month, i decided to make a Potter’s wheel.
I didn’t spend much time researching the actual potter’s wheel. I just went with my gut feeling about how it works and decided to make a disc that rotates at a decent speed.
I started with a motor. The exhaust fan motor seemed an obvious choice. It comes with a stand, very silent running, not too fast not too slow. After a 10 minute negotiation with the quite-reasonable electrician, i bought a 2nd hand motor for 300/- (I am sure it is cheaper but i was too exited to start the project!)
Exhaust Fan Motor
My 1st step was to add a speed regulator in the motor circuit. This way i can control the speed of the motor.
Then i fit an aluminium plate directly on top of the motor. (pic not available)
I bought a kilo of putty clay and started to work on my pottery in my bathroom. Within 15 minutes, the 4 walls of my bathroom were covered in clay. Since then, while bathing, my roommate curses everytime he steps on a lump of clay, thinking it was a lizard.
The problem was oxymoronic. Too fast and too slow.
When you put the blob of clay at the center of the plate and start the motor, it takes a while for the plate to gain speed. When it does, it accelerates so fast, that the clay starts shooting off in all directions.(Dear Centrifugal force, sometimes, i hate you).
And when you slow down the speed with the speed regulator, the motor absolutely stops when you touch the clay to shape it. Low torque.
It was clear i had to increase torque and reduce speed. So i found a kids bicycle wheel and made a belt drive.
Motor, coupling and bicycle wheel
This is what i came up with:
Potter's wheel without the belt
I am happy with this attempt. But i sure need to work on a real potter’s wheel to experience perfection. Potter’s wheel version 2 is destined for me. and i’ll attempt is someday.
Meanwhile here’s the video of ver 1
