Thread: VFD switching on a Hercus 260

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Is there a power supply for the controls or do they run on mains V?

I can't see one Stuart, so I guess they are mains controlled.

I've attached the schematic of the eBay Huanyang VFD. As you say, it looks like the ratings refer to the voltage/current rating of the relay contacts.

Chris,
Just to clarify- when you want to turn your lathe off under normal operation, do you hit the red button on the cabinet panel and kill power to the VFD, or do you select the rotary selector to the middle position?

Bob,
I don't think I'll be tempting fate and fitting an e-stop. I am constantly changing between 3 jaw, 4 jaw and ER40 collet chucks. As a result my chucks come off very easily.

Originally Posted by jack620

Bob,
I don't think I'll be tempting fate and fitting an e-stop. I am constantly changing between 3 jaw, 4 jaw and ER40 collet chucks. As a result my chucks come off very easily.

I also change jaws but maybe not that often. My e-stops on my lathes are at hip-height - the reason I put them there is because that is where they were on the little Hercus when I used it as far back as 1972 so I sort of instinctively would go for that. The problem with that position is that it is a little to easy to bump than I would like so I have accidentally hit the e-stop several times while it has been running and also when it has not.

When running and I have accidentally or deliberately used the e-stop I have not seen any sign of the chuck loosening. When I said it stops in less than a second, I have measured it with a stop watch and it is around 0.9 s so it is not a dead stop.

With the DP the chuck is not likely to come off on an emergency stop.

Bob,
my current e-stop is a 200x200mm kick plate at floor level. I suppose I can experiment and find an e-stop setting that doesn't unscrew the chuck.
Chris

Originally Posted by jack620

Bob,
my current e-stop is a 200x200mm kick plate at floor level. I suppose I can experiment and find an e-stop setting that doesn't unscrew the chuck.
Chris

! you have space at floor level !

Originally Posted by jack620

I've attached the schematic of the eBay Huanyang VFD. As you say, it looks like the ratings refer to the voltage/current rating of the relay contacts.

I've only been able to get FC FA FB to work(though there is a huge range of options as to just when it works). In my manual at least the labels change a few times from once place to another.
KA KB I had no luck with
DRV UPF DCM I didnt really try as I have a habit of letting the smoke out of transistors.
Not sure you'll need any of that anyway.

As far as stop buttons go I prefer my "normal" stop and my "emg" stop to be the same thing. I fitted a brake pedal to my lathe(although its not on a VSD as yet and has a camloc spindle). My mill has a brake also, both can over power the motor if needed.

Stuart

What you do with E-stops can get into some quite involved discussions, I think we've had several in the past. My preference is for a mains input latching contactor that is dropped when the e-stop loop is broken, and if you want I guess you could hook that into the drive e-stop as well, you might get some braking while the capacitors are discharging.

As far as drive brands go, I've got mostly Huanyang drives, but also Teco, Danfoss and Mitsubishi.. Huanyang are cheap and low quality, but perform pretty well... I've only blown up three so far... ( out of many ) but I think I can repair those when I get around to it..

There was talk of cheap Danfoss drives not long ago, I think maybe it was a discussion with GQ?

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

What you do with E-stops can get into some quite involved discussions,

It can??

Originally Posted by RayG

if you want I guess you could hook that into the drive e-stop as well, you might get some braking while the capacitors are discharging.

From the testing I did on the Teco, you'd have to have the VSD in "emg stop" before it lost its normal run command or the E-stop does nothing. Not sure about losing power.

Bob you said a design life of 8 years, is this because of the caps?

Stuart

Originally Posted by RayG

Huanyang are cheap and low quality, but perform pretty well... I've only blown up three so far...

Crikey, now you've got me worried Ray! I like to do a job once only. I might spend a few extra $ and get the SAJ or make an offer on the WEG.

If I recall correctly those cheap Danfoss VFDs weren't vector drives.

You get what you pay for.

Like Stuart, my e-stop and regular stop are the same. On the 260 it's a 2 second stop cycle, I can't recall what the other lathe is, I probably would have made them the same. I can't imagine a VFD being able to stop a lathe so suddenly it would unscrew a chuck, especially not without some pretty serious braking resistors. That energy needs to go somewhere.

I found the WEG in the UK way cheaper than the eBay seller in Melbourne. About $200 delivered by TNT versus around $350:

WEG CFW-10 - 0.75kW & 0.55kW 230V 1ph to 3ph AC Inverter Drive Speed Controller - AC Inverter Drives (230V)

These guys have a huge range of VFDs and a product finder which allows you to define your VFD parameters.

Originally Posted by jack620

I found the WEG in the UK way cheaper than the eBay seller in Melbourne. About $200 delivered by TNT versus around $350:

WEG CFW-10 - 0.75kW & 0.55kW 230V 1ph to 3ph AC Inverter Drive Speed Controller - AC Inverter Drives (230V)

These guys have a huge range of VFDs and a product finder which allows you to define your VFD parameters.

Please excuse my electrical ignorance, but would a O/S inverter (designed for that market) work in Australia? I thought we used different power stuff???

I recently bought the HY inverter. The first one arrived smashed in transit, the new arrived today in good shape. Will hopefully have it on soon!

Ben

Ben,
We use the same voltage and frequency as the UK.
Chris

Originally Posted by jack620

Ben,
We use the same voltage and frequency as the UK.
Chris

Well, all I can say is:

"if you can't fix it with a hammer, it's a electrical problem."

Not my saying, but I live by it.

Ben

Originally Posted by bwal74

Please excuse my electrical ignorance, but would a O/S inverter (designed for that market) work in Australia? I thought we used different power stuff???

Australia is in the blue group ie just about everyone