NOVA DVR WOODLATHE

The most innovative woodturning manufacturer in the world releases another world first.....
A completely integrated headstock/motor package.  This leading edge, patented technology is not available from any other woodlathe manufacturer in the world.

Features at a glance
High Torque Power
Ultra Smooth Cutting 
Plug and Play - easy to use, push button electronic variable speed with forward and reverse
Safety Sensing 
Power Saving
Low Maintenance
Triple Bearing System
Same popular Nova 3000 features - swivel head, extendable bed

What is DVR Technology?
DVR stands for Digital Variable Reluctance - a big name for a very simple idea and design!
The heart of the DVR is a combination of the conventional lathe headstock and the motor as one unit - the motor is literally built on the headstock spindle.

It's a very simple design!   The motor itself is only 2 pieces. The Rotor (the rotating part of the motor) is just solid steel laminations, pressed onto the lathe spindle. The Stator (the outside power coils) provide intense magnetic force to turn the spindle. The motor is solid and heavily constructed, because it forms part of the headstock. The bearing structure is a specially developed TRIMAX TM bearing configuration, which provides a heavy-duty spindle.

The motor is the simplest of motors. Around the outside of the motor are a number of electromagnets. The rotor is an extension of the headstock spindle - it looks like a large toothed shaft. When a magnet is switched on,  an intense magnetic field is created and the tooth is pulled to line up with the magnet, then the next magnet is switched on, which forces the spindle to rotate.

Since it works by magnetic attraction, the speed or position of the shaft is unimportant to its torque. The switching of the magnets is controlled by a microcomputer, using an digital display and soft control pad.  The motor is smart - it knows the exact shaft position and is constantly computing where the shaft should be. At 2000 rpm, for instance,  it is computing the shaft position 24000 times per minute.


Why use DVR?
We wanted to produce an integrated motor / headstock package -- to make a simple, integrated lathe package, to increase lathe performance for the turner, and reduce the long term cost associated with wear & tear. That's because the DVR doesn't have any belts, pulleys, motor mounting set up and so on.

The problem with a direct drive is that conventional AC and DC just can't deliver the torque performance needed - many turners know that a Woodlathe needs many times the normal speed torque as the speed comes down.  The DVR motor is designed just for this, in fact the motor can deliver maximum torque holding the spindle stopped.

What makes it so great for Woodturners?

Where do we start? The DVR is simply packed with features that will set the standard for Woodlathes in the years to come Take a look at some of these:

Simply take home and plug in. Nothing to set-up and adjust.
High performance -- high torque motor
Electronic control and display - screen provides exact speed setting.
Push button forward reverse.
Accurate speed control for smooth cutting conditions.
Maintenance free. No moving wearing parts apart from normal lathe spindle bearings.
Leading edge technology for turner.
Motor highly efficient -- lower power cost.


Building on the same platform that makes the Nova 3000 such a great lathe - same bed design, same swivel head and same accessories (extendable bed and outrigger units and so on) However the DVR also has some great additional features - including a solid tailstock design. If you are a current Nova 3000 lathe owner, you can easily upgrade your lathe to the DVR technology - you can add the solid DVR tailstock and the DVR electronic variable speed headstock. Both units easily retro fit onto your existing Nova 3000 lathe, and can be purchased seperately.

So, is the motor an AC or DC?
Well technically it's neither; it operates on a magnetic pulse principal. It is closer to DC than AC but the DC for coils is supplied in a variable waveform.

The Motor is maintenance free and highly reliable
Because it is built as part of spindle,  the only wearing part is the headstock spindle bearings.
The motor is Brushless.
No rotor winding to fail on Rotor.
No drive belts no pulleys to set up or become loose.
Control electronics very reliable - heavy industrial grade electronic componentry

In AC and DC motors the rotor windings (wires) are very fine and it is difficult to remove heat from the shaft. During high torque conditions, the fine wires carry high amperage and can overheat fast. The DVR rotor is solid steel - no wires. At low speed, almost no losses in the rotor are generated. The Stator coils are heavy cross section wire, so have high current carrying capability. Because the coils are built into the headstock the headstock absorbs and radiates any heat generated from its large surface area, and internal fan forced air galleries also cool motor and headstock.

No  need for 20 amp or 220v circuit, the standard motor will give excellent performance from standard 115v 15-amp supply.
All the motor power is at the spindle no losses from drive belts.
Many safety features are built in as standard. Motor won't automatically restart after a power disruption. The motor is smart-  it can often sense abnormal cutting conditions and cut power helping to reduce accident conditions.

Close up of DVR Electronic Control Board

The DVR motor is extremely efficient
The DVR efficiency is high compared to conventional DC and AC motors.  This results in low heat generated and high component reliability. The DVR only supplies enough power to the coils to maintain the shaft at its computed position. Energy is not wasted and wires are components aren't stressed.

High Power high torque motor
Can be plugged into normal 115v 15-amp supply. For the user, there is  no need for special 220v lines or 20 amp power outlets.

More power at the spindle
As there is no belt, there is no Vee belt friction and transmission losses! A normal belt drive on most lathes will deliver about 80% of the motor output power at the spindle, a 1.5Hp motor would deliver around  1.2Hp at the spindle and 2Hp about 1.5 Hp. The DVR delivers 

Smooth steady drive
"I never new I could get such smoothness in a cut!" Just one comment from a Teknatool User Test. To view more user tests, go here.

Note the information provided is designed to convey information in a simple non-technical way -- the terms, performance characteristic and explanation may not be strictly technically accurate. Consult Teknatool technical for further information.