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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    38
    Posts
    31

    Default Yet another post regarding VFD upgrades

    Hey folks,

    Have spent the last little while trawling through the mass amount of information about upgrading a lathe to a VFD. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to that wealth of knowledge.

    I have a sweet old Tough lathe that I bought about 5 years ago, one owner, only turned on Sundays. I'm currently looking at turning some bigger pieces, and I don't know what the slowest speed it currently spins at but I'd like to install a VFD.

    It's got a beautiful motor on it currently, paperwork for a service not long before the owner passed away. Unfortunately it's single phase. After looking through so much information, and not actually having a 3ph motor to start with, I found an eBay selling who sells 3ph motors with VFD for a pretty reasonable price.

    I know the motors won't be as good as the old bulletproof motors built locally. Would anyone, who has more knowledge than me, be able to tell me if this would be an alright option?

    Single Phase 240V VFD VSD Variable Speed Frequency Drive IP20 & Electric Motor | eBay

    They have several options, but I was looking at getting the 0.72kw 1400rpm motor.

    Thanks for any advice.

    Sam

    Sent from my GM1900 using Tapatalk

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
    Posts
    7,696

    Default

    Unless the VFD has got vector control I would not buy it as the power at very low speeds will drop off dramatically and make the lathe unusable. See if you can buy a 3 phase motor locally and a VFD to suit that does have vector control. Powtran are a VFD that a lot of users here have experience with and as has been found out by a few when problems occur we have the knowledge locally to help or can call on the factory at any time as happened a few months ago when a misunderstanding led to a protracted but successful result for the user. That was on a lathe as well and I guess it is working well after the initial issues. I can assist you in getting one if that is the way you want to go.
    CHRIS

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    That is a really nice lathe - we have two at the mens shed and they seem to take whatever is thrown at them.

    If you're buying from Oz then for around the same price I would recommend a Conon motor and VFD.

    Motor
    1.5kw 2HP 1400rpm shaft 24mm Electric motor Three phase 415v
    VFD
    1.5kw/2HP 240V Single Phase Variable Frequency Compact Drive Inverter VSD VFD

    You get 2 Year warranty and real support, and a readable manual.

    You will note I recommend a 2HP motor rather than a 1HP - this is because using a VFD at slow speed the power output of teh motor is proportional to frequency.

    So if you run a 1HP motor at 50Hz (~1400rpm) you will get 1HP but if you halve the speed (25Hz or 700 RPM you will only get half the power.
    If you start out with a 2HP then you will still have 1HP at 25Hz/1400rpm.

    Note if you want to go much lower than this eg 12Hz/350 rpm (and you are placing a high load on the motor) then the motor fan may not provide sufficient cooling. You can get around this by adding a fan (a 4" computer type fan is usually enough) to throw some air onto the side of the motor.

    Have you read the PDF on "VFDs for newbies" in the Electronics forums?

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    38
    Posts
    31

    Default

    Thanks for the quick replies! Glad I didn't just push Buy it now!

    Bobl I tried to download the pdf and it wouldn't download, not sure if it's my end or not. I gained a load of information from your post where you explained converting a couple of lathes and the drill press. I'm a cabinet maker, not a sparky and a lot of the information of doing an actual conversion I struggle to comprehend. That's why I thought it would be easier to buy the whole package.

    But I'll definitely do some more investigating with that new information. Thanks so much.

    Sent from my GM1900 using Tapatalk

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shyrat View Post
    Thanks for the quick replies! Glad I didn't just push Buy it now!

    Bobl I tried to download the pdf and it wouldn't download, not sure if it's my end or not. I gained a load of information from your post where you explained converting a couple of lathes and the drill press. I'm a cabinet maker, not a sparky and a lot of the information of doing an actual conversion I struggle to comprehend. That's why I thought it would be easier to buy the whole package.

    But I'll definitely do some more investigating with that new information. Thanks so much.

    Sent from my GM1900 using Tapatalk
    Check your PMs for info about sending you the PDF by email.

    There's a Youtube video as well you can look at - gets a bit technical at times but you will see lots of examples.
    Variable Speed Drives - YouTube

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    North Carolina, USA
    Posts
    2,327

    Default

    Shyrat, You could also make or have made a countershaft to reduce the speed: Lathe Countershafts, Jackshafts, Spindle Speeds

    Old Delta wood lathes had one that was mounted under the bed to reduce speed for metal working. Rockwell Delta Wood lathes
    So much timber, so little time.

    Paul

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