I have had a look as best I can through old posts and have come out a little confused so I am hoping for some advice please.

I have been on the search for a mill and a Bridgeport has come up that may fit my needs. I have not a lot of detail yet and will view it on Tuesday. It seems to be one with the variable speed head via cone pulleys. I believe there is also old power feed (looks to be geared and quite a large looking unit compared to modern power feeds). There may also be y axis power feed but that is unconfirmed.

So so my question relates to power - the spindle motor is 3 phase and I expect that the power feed and lube pump is as well. The mill has a three phase plug. My shed doesn’t have three phase power although there is three phase to the house close by ( the air con is 3 phase). I currently run two other 3 phase motors off a vfd for a belt and a disc grinder. The grinders have same spec motors and the vfd is changed between the two using 3 phase plugs (female plug on the output side of vfd and male plugs on each of the two grinders).

I had assumed if I bought a 3 phase mill I could similarly just connect my vfd via 3 phase plug and away I would go (assuming motors are relatively matched). However now that I have been thinking about other motors like the power feeds etc I have become quite unsure. Can anyone who has a vfd setup with a similar style mill please give some advice on what my options and expectations are please? If I need another dedicated vfd I could do this although I am pushing my budget very hard here. My other option is to admit defeat on a decent mill and revert to a Chinese hobby mill - single phase and will likely do all I need cheaper but will always feel that much lesser of a machine to a decent Bridgeport or similar.

i don’t have long to make a decision - speedy advice please!


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