Does the Shimpo RK-10 Super have Cone Drive or Belt Drive

[Alan]

I am purchasing a new potters wheel, and I am trying to decide what model
to buy. I was told by my pottery instructor, who has been teaching for
over 25 years, that the he has found the cone drive Shimpo wheels to be the
most reliable. I asked two different suppliers if the RK-10 Super was cone
drive. One supplier said "I fix them all the time, Shimpo hasn't made cone
drive wheels in years." The other supplier said "I fix them all the time,
I am sure that they are still manufactured with cone drives." Who is
right?

I understand that Shimpo also has a master series, which is belt drive.
Since the suppliers are out of town, I can't open up the wheel and see for
myself.

[NotnowS]

I've been curious about the use of the cone drive. What is the purpose ? A
friend suggested it was for slippage for safety. Prehaps it's to reduce
vibation that a belt drive might produce ? Any thoughts would be greatly
apprieciated. I got my variable speed DC drive in and a machinist buddy should
be finished with my shaft assy. soon so this info would be very timely. Thanks
and See Ya,
Dink just covered in clay

[Slgraber]

why cone drive wheels?

it's cheaper to make a cone drive than a direct drive with a variable speed
adjuster.

the cones provide variation in wheel head RPM while maintaing constant motor
RPM. wheel head RPM depends on how the cones engage with each other as you
adjust the speed lever.

notice on shimpos the motor is always running. also notice the amount of clay
you can center tends to be lower than the direct drives -- torque supplied to
the wheel head is less.

we have shimpos at the adult ed class and i can stop the wheel head from
spinning while trying to center 8 or 10 pounds of clay. of course these wheels
are old and have never been serviced too...

>Subject: Re: Does the Shimpo RK-10 Super have Cone Drive or Belt Drive
>From: not...@aol.com (NotnowS)
>Date: 7/25/98 11:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: <199807260613...@ladder03.news.aol.com>

steve graber

[Stephen Mills]

The first one is right. The RK10 has what Shimpo call Metallic Traction
Drive. It's very good, strong, and controlable.

Steve

In article <01bdb816$951dee80$f2436cce@zysman>, Alan <al...@interlog.com>
writes

--
Steve Mills

steve...@mudslinger.demon.co.uk

[Stephen Mills]

If you try and stop an RK10 the casing will want to go round!! :-)

Steve

In article <199807261743...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, Slgraber
<slgr...@aol.com> writes

--
Steve Mills

steve...@mudslinger.demon.co.uk

[Barbara Lister]

Why do you not get in touch with Shimpo themselves. The Company has an
excellent page on the WEB and can provide you with any information you
might want about any of their products.

Barbara

[D. & N. Harvey]

Alan wrote:
>
> I am purchasing a new potters wheel, and I am trying to decide what model
> to buy. I was told by my pottery instructor, who has been teaching for
> over 25 years, that the he has found the cone drive Shimpo wheels to be the
> most reliable. I asked two different suppliers if the RK-10 Super was cone
> drive. One supplier said "I fix them all the time, Shimpo hasn't made cone
> drive wheels in years." The other supplier said "I fix them all the time,
> I am sure that they are still manufactured with cone drives." Who is
> right?
>
> I understand that Shimpo also has a master series, which is belt drive.
> Since the suppliers are out of town, I can't open up the wheel and see for
> myself.

the cone drive is the deal ..mines at least 25 years
old.. you can tune them up yourself and the action is
much better than a beltdrive. D.Harvey

[alya...@gmail.com]

I realize this post is almost 20 years old... wow... but I am currently desperately seeking a drive ring for a Shimpo RK-8. Does anyone have a lead on this? Thanks in advance for any help!!

[peter...@gmail.com]

Have you tried contacting Shimpo? I have had very helpful responses from Shimpo in Japan regarding parts for old wheels - they supplied a drive ring for an RK2 and a foot pedal control cable for an RK 10. Plus, for the RK 2 I found that some of the rubber mountings used on the later RK 10 are almost identical (Shimpo claim the rubber mountings for the RK 2 are discontinued) I rebuilt my RK 2 using replacement mountings and a new drive ring and it's as sweet as a nut now.

Try searching for a parts list on the Shimpo support web site. If you can quote a part number to Shimpo that will greatly help them support you.

Regarding cone drive: the RK2 uses cone drive from motor an intermediate wheel, which then uses a belt to drive the wheel head. The RK 10 (AKA RK 21) uses a "metallic traction drive" attached to the motor, which then drives a similar belt that takes power to the wheel head. The advantage of a cone drive is that the motor is running at full speed all the time, whereas a variable speed motor is running very slowly at low wheel head speeds, so is easier to stop with a heavy clay load. The RK 2 and RK 10 are tough little brutes and should easily overcome your attempts to stop them.

Good luck
Peter