The difference between “Electric” and “Electronic” Spinning Wheels.

The difference is not so much about the ability of the spinning machine to do a job, but more about the lasting ability of the motor.

There is however, still a difference to consider, which is in the spinning capacity of motorised spinners. This being between the bobbin led machine (Irish brake design) or the flyer led machine (Scotch tension design). The “led” part being what is driven by the drive band. The Roberta electronic spinner is the bobbin led type. The reason is in the control of the drafting rate, which is governed by the flyer speed. If the flyer is driven by a motor (as occurs with the scotch tension design) the speed needs to be altered continuously to suit whatever is wanted in the drafting speed from your fingers. Failure to handle this correctly, will affect the quality of the yarn produced or even to break the yarn. With the Roberta electronic spinner (bobbin led), this is not a concern, because the motor speed is affecting the bobbin, not the flyer. The motor affects only the twist rate, not the pull-in rate for drafting. Therefore no broken yarn, when starting up, with a motor speed set too fast. The Roberta electronic spinner design is based on the same design as is found in modern spinning mills today. The only difference being, the mills run at 6000 revs. per minute. Just a touch faster than the Roberta!!

Regarding the lasting of the motor; “electric” means mains power goes straight to the motor with only a speed control. The speed control is just a resistor, that restricts the voltage going to the motor to make it go faster or slower. With the straight electric, the motors are not designed to do the job required of them (sewing machine type motors). What is required, is high torque (twisting effort of the shaft), at slow speeds. These sewing machine electric motors are designed to run at high speeds under load. They use AC (alternating current) power, as found in the mains supply. When you restrict the voltage to slow it down, and then put the motor under load, you then create a burning of the armature (the middle core). This will become very bad, if the motor actually stalls under load. With all this stress and burning on the armature surface, the motors are not likely to last more than 5 years with constant use.

“Electronic” means that the power or current is modified, and is also continuous monitored and controlled according to the demands placed upon the motor by the spinning person.

All the disadvantages of the pure “electric” machine are removed. The power voltage is reduced to 12 volts only, and is changed to DC (direct current). This type of current gives very strong torque to the motor at slow speed. No harm can come to the motor because of the reduced voltage. It is a special DC motor designed for the purpose. In addition, the current is automatically and continuously adjusted between amperage and voltage according to load and speed factors wanted by the setting on the front knob control. There are a number of electronic components in the circuit to accomplish this. They include a transistor, transformer, bridge rectifier, potentiometer, diodes, and a capacitor, among other things.

If a manufacturer cannot offer a 12 volt auxiliary power source to the spinner, as an option, it is highly likely not electronic. They should also be challenged to match our 10 year guarantee on the motor, as is found with the Roberta electronic spinner.