New a New VFD for my Woodfast Lathe

Hi Guys, don't get on here much anymore, as I am mainly on my phone these days and I find it hard to read and sooooo slow. Anyway with COVID I'm stuck at home so can use my computer, so at least I can read it easier but it's still sooooo slow (as I gain internet through my phone's hotspot).

This used to be my little Woodfast that I converted to a 3PH 1HP motor with a VFD. The second photo is the test setup of the drive for the lathe (i.e. motor and VFD). Worked a treat, but when I used to push it, the torque did let me down.

Attachment 473999 Attachment 474000

For those who haven't heard, I had a little fire at my place the other day, long story short is my little Woodfast is very sick. Everything inside the cupboards survived (i.e. motor is OK), but everything above got cooked. All's fine, apart from the mess, but with the help of insurance I'm slowly getting things fixed.

Attachment 474001 Attachment 474002

Now I may use the insurance to go for a new variable speed Woodfast, but as an alternative, I may fix my old one and use the insurance money for other things. With this in mind, I need to your help to decide which is the best VFD now to use.

So given the discussions have gone on in the other threads I take it a Powertran Vector drive is now recommended. The discussions however are not clear, to this ol fella anyway, what is the best model for a 1HP 3PH motor to achieve the best result for maximum torque, and where is the best place to get it?

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

Cheers
Neil

Damn! Sorry to hear about your disaster!

Any lessons from it to share with us to learn from?

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Originally Posted by dai sensei

Hi Guys, don't get on here much anymore, as I am mainly on my phone these days and I find it hard to read and sooooo slow.

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Neil,

Try installing Tapatalk (free version) on your phone, and log into the forum through it. It makes interacting with the forum way easier on a tablet or phone. It doesn't help with the speed, but at least it's easier to read.

Fire - not good :C:C:C How did it happen?
What actually caught fire - this could be really important - PM me or give me a call if you don't want to discuss it in the open forum.

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Originally Posted by dai sensei

So given the discussions have gone on in the other threads I take it a Powertran Vector drive is now recommended. The discussions however are not clear, to this ol fella anyway, what is the best model for a 1HP 3PH motor to achieve the best result for maximum torque, and where is the best place to get it?

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The VFD type that helps with low speed torque is a "Vector drive VFD". Most VFDs have this at least as a program option so it has to be programmed in and then the VFD needs to run the motor in an unloaded state for a "tune up"

Powtran are only shipping via DHL ATM so although the VFDs are cheap that still means US$45 for the shipping and shipping times can be problematic

I got price list from them last week and nothing has changed so a PI150-0R7G1 is US$57 all up $102 or AUS$154 but even at that price its good value and will be much more reliable than any of the $100 units on ebay.

Better but more expensive than the ebay cheapies is something like this Aussie supplier 0.75kw/1HP 240V Single Phase Variable Frequency Compact Drive Inverter VSD VFD $196 with 2 YEAR WARRANTY. I've not used one personally but I have heard good reports.
They also sell decent motors but they don't appear to have any 1HP 3P motor in stock ATM.

As far a motors go you could consider a 6 pole motor. These produce their max torque at ~900 rpm instead of 1400 rpm for a 4 pole motor. this means even with a conventionL V/F VFD a 1HP motor will put out more than 1/2HP (original Woodfast motor HP) between 450rpm/25Hz and say 2700rpm at 150Hz (top end might be pushing it a bit) With Vector drive implemented this should generate >1/2 HP between about 15Hz and 150Hz. BUT , beware of running the motor under even a moderate load at low speed (<30Hz) continually with additional cooing. A 6" PC type fan strapped tp the motor would be the go.

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Originally Posted by LanceC

Neil,

Try installing Tapatalk (free version) on your phone, and log into the forum through it. It makes interacting with the forum way easier on a tablet or phone. It doesn't help with the speed, but at least it's easier to read.

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Correct me someone if I am wrong but don’t Tapatalk hijack the advertising revenue From the forum? Fair enough to use it on a phone where the browser version of the forum is not great, but on a tablet, I take the usability hit and support the forum.

yes Bruce, the tapatalk behaviour is to block the forum's ads and use their own, so the forum misses out...

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Originally Posted by RSD

Damn! Sorry to hear about your disaster!

Any lessons from it to share with us to learn from?

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Yeh, "don't be stupid" :rolleyes::U ,metho and flames don't mix :oo: :doh:

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Originally Posted by BobL

Fire - not good :C:C:C How did it happen?
What actually caught fire - this could be really important - PM me or give me a call if you don't want to discuss it in the open forum.,,,

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I was trying to get my waste block off my finished turning that was hot melt glued on. Rather than just turning it off (heaven forbid if I was to waste 2mm of pine :doh:) I started trying to get it off with metho, soaking it off. Too good a joint so didn't work, then decided heat, but rather than use the heat gun that was in another shed, I used the flame torch :o i.e. just wasn't thinking, being lazy, and stupid :B. To Make things worse, tried moving the burning plastic and wood shavings (hybrid blank) from under the lathe to the floor, where there were heaps of shavings :doh:. After trying to stomp it out decided to grab the hose that I knew was on, rather than the fire extinguisher :rolleyes:, and in that time the 4 litre plastic bottle of metho I was using melted causing a metho flaming waterfall off the lathe. It then poured onto the plastic bottles of thinners and lacquer I had on the floor, and you guessed it, they went up too.

It was all out in 10 min max, just as the fire brigade arrived, but it was amazing how much damage it did. Lucky it didn't spread to any of the huge wood stacks in that garage, including ~50 large slabs.

Like I said previously, "being stupid", a brain fart moment

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LanceC

Neil,

Try installing Tapatalk (free version) on your phone, and log into the forum through it. It makes interacting with the forum way easier on a tablet or phone. It doesn't help with the speed, but at least it's easier to read.

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Got it, but my eyesight ain't what it used to be, and phone screens are tiny

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Originally Posted by BobL

..The VFD type that helps with low speed torque is a "Vector drive VFD". Most VFDs have this at least as a program option so it has to be programmed in and then the VFD needs to run the motor in an unloaded state for a "tune up"

Powtran are only shipping via DHL ATM so although the VFDs are cheap that still means US$45 for the shipping and shipping times can be problematic

I got price list from them last week and nothing has changed so a PI150-0R7G1 is US$57 all up $102 or AUS$154 but even at that price its good value and will be much more reliable than any of the $100 units on ebay.

Better but more expensive than the ebay cheapies is something like this Aussie supplier 0.75kw/1HP 240V Single Phase Variable Frequency Compact Drive Inverter VSD VFD $196 with 2 YEAR WARRANTY. I've not used one personally but I have heard good reports.
They also sell decent motors but they don't appear to have any 1HP 3P motor in stock ATM.

As far a motors go you could consider a 6 pole motor. These produce their max torque at ~900 rpm instead of 1400 rpm for a 4 pole motor. this means even with a conventionL V/F VFD a 1HP motor will put out more than 1/2HP (original Woodfast motor HP) between 450rpm/25Hz and say 2700rpm at 150Hz (top end might be pushing it a bit) With Vector drive implemented this should generate >1/2 HP between about 15Hz and 150Hz. BUT , beware of running the motor under even a moderate load at low speed (<30Hz) continually with additional cooing. A 6" PC type fan strapped tp the motor would be the go.

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Thanks heaps :2tsup::2tsup:. Is that Conon Motor one a vector drive? Just the info in that link doesn't even mention it

My 3 phase motor wasn't harmed as it was in the cupboard. I only need the VFD and rewire the whole thing.

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Originally Posted by dai sensei

Thanks heaps :2tsup::2tsup:. Is that Conon Motor one a vector drive? Just the info in that link doesn't even mention it
My 3 phase motor wasn't harmed as it was in the cupboard. I only need the VFD and rewire the whole thing.

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Sorry it wasn't - you'd have to look at this one.
0.75kw/1HP 5A 240V AC single phase variable frequency drive inverter

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Originally Posted by BobL

Sorry it wasn't - you'd have to look at this one.
0.75kw/1HP 5A 240V AC single phase variable frequency drive inverter

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Thanks but that is the one I had. It didn't really have much torque grunt, but did I have the setting right?? Hmm can't check now,

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Originally Posted by dai sensei

Thanks but that is the one I had. It didn't really have much torque grunt, but did I have the setting right?? Hmm can't check now,

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The Vector drive has to be enabled by the program AND some sort of motor auto tune has to be run.

Maybe go the Powtran.

Personally I would go for the PI9000 series rather than their budget models , maybe go through Chris Parks?

I bought direct from Powtran and found then easy to deal with. From memory, paid with PayPal. I just contacted them via email and it was plain sailing from there. I would make sure that it is freighted with DHL or similar courier rather than China Post as I have heard they are less affected by the current slow postal system.

They're currently not able to work with PayPal.

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Originally Posted by BobL

They're currently not able to work with PayPal.

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I can’t register to Powtrans web site, they are not accepting my phone number +61417782204 ?? Tried with and without +, +61 etc

The way I purchase wholesale from Powtran is thru Nicole from Powtran and do it all by email. You have to know exactly what you want and email Nicole and ask for a quote for specific model(s) and for shopping and she will send you a US$ quote and a Western Union account number to pay into. Nicole’s email is [email protected]