I have a Dewalt DW423 type 1 varriable speed random orbit sander. It has a speed dilal near the top. It is suppose to orbit at 7,000 - 12.000 OPM. It does not reach these speeds, It is more like 700 - 1,200 OPM. What is up here?

I find 12,000 OPM very fast, that's 200 OPS. Sure you are not reading the dial wrong? Hard to find info as it is a discontinued model.