Inexpensive Non Contact Tachometers....??

[Crow Horse]

I realize you get what you pay for, but does anyone have any experience with low cost non contact tachometers? As a newbie, it would be a great advantage to be able to get rpm's in the ballpark. Thanks.....

 

[Old Rivers]

I realize you get what you pay for, but does anyone have any experience with low cost non contact tachometers? As a newbie, it would be a great advantage to be able to get rpm's in the ballpark. Thanks.....

Here's an idea for a low budget tachometer.

Bill

 

[JPMacG]

Optical tachometers work well. Here is one: https://www.towerhobbies.com/product/micro-digital-tachometer/HAN156.html Mine is accurate. You would have to put two strips of white tape on your spindle.

Alternatively, there are smartphone tachometer apps. The one I have is a bit awkward, but seems to work OK.

 

[Buffalo21]

They are all over the net for $15 and up, I bought mine from Meter Depot. I also have one from harbor freight both work perfectly

 

[mksj]

What is the application/machine and are you looking for a hand held or one mounted to the machine? The inexpensive tachs work well and are accurate in my experience, if you are integrating them into a machine you need a power source (typically 12VDC) and need to figure where the speed sensor is going to be placed. I typically use an induction type of sensor, optical in a dirty environment can be a problem and they are a bit more challenging to mount. They all work fine.

 

[Crow Horse]

I'm considering a hand held unit for my Sherline lathe.

 

[brino]

I have one identical to this:

Digital Tachometer Non Contact Laser Photo RPM Tach Meter Motor Speed Gauge US | eBay

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It's worked well for several years.

-brino

 

[Tom1948]

Got one from Harbor Freight. Works good. Don't remember price.

 

[EricB]

The non-contact ones need a reflective reference on the moving part to sense rpm. I use a contact version. It also gives a surface speed reading. I don't know if the non-contact ones will do that.

Eric

 

[KyleG]

I have one of the harbor freight jobbies, which works well. My only gripe is that it’s a surprisingly large device in person.