For those who saw the recent post about Jessem factory seconds at a discount, you probably also noticed Jessem discovered some Pow-R-Tek Routers that they still have available.

https://jessem.com/products/pow-r-tek%E2%84%A2-router-with-remote-control-box

Many had speculated that this was the same router motor or at least the same manufacturer that Bora and SpinRite use and I can now confirm that this is the case from an email with Jessem customer service.

Email from Jessem:
"Thank you for your interest in ordering products from JessEm Tool.
The Pow-R-Tek routers we currently have on sale were recently found in our facility.
They are in original condition from the Chinese manufacturer.
This is the same manufacturer that makes SpinRite and Bora routers."

Anyone know if the current Pow-R-Tek router has a magnetic switch?

I read the manual and it can shut itself down if overloaded and you need to manually reset power moving the switch from On to OFF then back ON, but it does not say what happens in a power failure/outage.

My current router switch is a magnetic switch and I would want to give that up but I like having the speed control right there on the control box and not have to fumble under the table to adjust the speed. Too often I just leave the speed where it's at rather than be bothered bumping it up or down a notch. If I'm mounting a big bit or such then I do make the correct speed selection.

I know it's not really difficult, but I like easy what can I say. :-)

If not and there is a new model coming out I hope they incorporate that feature plus an ER20 collet.

@Bob D.

From what I’ve been able to find I do not believe it is a magnetic switch. Their Pow-R-Tek switch that they sell by itself is not magnetic. Hopefully they will add that feature on the new one coming out.

I emailed JessEm and that is what they told me yesterday. I suggested that they consider adding that feature to the new version under development along with an ER20 collet.

Quote from: edwarmr on June 23, 2022, 02:01 PM

@Bob D.

From what I’ve been able to find I do not believe it is a magnetic switch. Their Pow-R-Tek switch that they sell by itself is not magnetic. Hopefully they will add that feature on the new one coming out.

I emailed JessEm and that is what they told me yesterday. I suggested that they consider adding that feature to the new version under development along with an ER20 collet.

Thanks for confirming!

Hopefully the new version will not have the same problems the last one had. It’s a great idea if they can execute it right.

What lift so you use for a spindle mounted in a router table.

Will it fit in my Woodpeckers PRL-V2 ? I believe I would need an adapter of some sort.

Most 2.2KW spindles I have seen for sale are 80mm which is much smaller than the 4.2" OD of the PC7518.

A water-cooled spindle could be a problem in the Winter. I don't heat the shop all Winter and it doesn't
get below freezing in there normally but our Winters are mild with temps not dropping below 20 that often.

I think I would opt for an air-cooled spindle because I don't run the router for more than 15 to 20 minutes
at a time. I have 240V power available at the router table so that would be an option, but I know they are
available in 240 or 120 volt versions.

I do remember seeing your post here about the lift you built now that you mention it.

It's now February 2023. Does anyone actually have the new Pow-R-Tek SR Router Motor? Apparently they sold one batch and are awaiting a second batch.

https://jessem.com/products/jessems-pow-r-tek-sr%E2%84%A2-router-with-variable-control-box?variant=40345048711238

I have a PC 75182 in my table now and it's got the wonky speed control issue. Replacement speed control boards seem to be unavailable, so this seems like an attractive but pricey possibility. That said, the PC still works on some speeds.

I have one. Used it few times. Works good. Didn’t get the hoses yet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Call me skeptical, the basic motor has been around for many years so I doubt Jessem designed it, the Jessem version controller is different to the AUK version and would seem to be a step up with its speed display. At the end of the day it is a repackaged VFD driving an air cooled spindle made for a router table. There are any number of air cooled CNC spindles and VFD's available out there and as they are CNC durable I would buy one of those as they generally come with a wide range of ER collets which makes the router bit spindle size irrelevant, use a collet sized for the bit you want to use.

https://www.woodworksupplies.com.au/p/9532305/router-control-station-plus-auk-1800watt-v3er-router-motor.html

So glad you got a good one Festal .

I am impressed with the design . I so want it to work . For those of you who are on the fence with the duct system . I will explain how it works . Because I thought one port was for in and the other for out . Not so!

The ducts (both) pull air from outside the cabinet and up thru the collet end of the motor . At the collet end of the motor there is a fan that exhausts air out the sides . This would tend to pressurize a closed cabinet and keep dust up top for top dust removal . At least this appears to be the case . Since I got a bum unit I haven't had it set up fully to test this theory . Anyway , constant cool air brought into a closed cabinet . Just a great Idea .   

Luv
My thoughts also . I only had a 1/2 half inch straight cutter in it .

I am thinking Jessem wants to try the least expensive rout to a solutions first . I am afraid this will be a weeks long process to bring this to a solution . Months possibly if Jessem has supply problems . They did say they would exchange the motor if the collet change does not fix this . However , if supply problems are an issue this is going to be a long drawn out process.

I hate that the west has sold it's manufacturing base the the China .

Yes I have . Powered up out of table and no bit or chuck . Less vibration but still seemed more than it should for a brand new motor .  Vibration seemed to be coming from the back of the motor (red end) while holding it . I really think I got a lemon . However , felt I had to go thru the motions with Jessem .

The following was my correspondence with Jessem .

" There is a lot of vibration coming from this unit. Enough at 20000 rpm’s to be ear hurting. Resonance all through the table. I took the unit out of the table and fired it up just holding it in my hands to take any possible contributing factors out of the equation. Resonance is coming from the motor. It is over twice what my big Makita plunge or Bosch 1617.

The motor has only had a 1/2 inch straight bit in it. However , even a straight bit tended to magnify the vibration. Ran the motor in my hand without a bit and vibration was less. Running it this way , the vibration seamed to be coming from the red end of the motor.

When the motor was in the table. At slow speed it was ok. At medium there would be a low growl coming from it. At 2200 it is a resonance machine.

I have my 1617 in the table now and there is no vibration. "



You can see that they focused on the "less vibration " first (concerning the collet ) . I understand that

I will let this thread know how this ultimately turns out .

I got mine a few weeks ago . Just set it up this week .
My unit had terrible vibration . Over twice a normal large router say a makita plunge. It caused the router table top (Phenolic Jessem) to resonate so loud it hurt my ears.

I contacted Jessem . They talked to their engineers . They got back to me saying they think I got a bad set of collets .  They are sending two new collets saying that will probably fix the problem . Said if it doesn't I can send it back for a new unit .

One thing that I found disappointing . It is designed in Canada by Jessem . Box indicates Made In China . 

Are any routers made in NA?

Here's the vibration level claimed by JessEm on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn-MKrVpLC4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Looking forward to a 240v version. We only have the AUK available which is a good router body, but this looks to have a few nice improvements.

Thank you Simon for posting the instagram link .

 This let me know what I should expect of this new motor . I did the screw test on my router motor. Screw flew off . I then put the router motor back into the lift and into the table with the screw on the router lift plate . It danced . I took a very short video of it dancing and sent it to Jessem Customer service . I then put my well used Bosch 1617 into the lift and then into the table. Placed a screw on the plate and the screw didn't move . Sent a short video of that to Jessem . They eventually got back to me saying the motor was defective.

They then canceled the previous collet order and issued a new order for a replacement motor . It is now on the way with a return shipment label for my defective motor .

Concerning Jessem customer service . They don't seem to like to answer or return phone calls . It appears there preferential way of communicating is with Email . This I didn't like . However , in the end they have treated me honorably .

Without the video evidence it would have been a much longer ordeal .

Kevin

So I'm assuming the collet seat was out of round or mis-aligned?

I wonder if they will contact all the people who bought one of these, or just wait till complaints come in. If its the latter, some lesser experienced people unfortunately won't know the vibration is actually an issue and just think its normal.

I will also add . Jessem also add reached out to me via email . This was before I had the motor up and running . I too had an email contact because of this when my trouble arose . On my defective unit . An out of round collet seat with no collet or bit while running doesn't seam to me to be the cause of my serious vibration .

My replacement motor is due to arrive this Thursday . So hoping to be delighted .