12-14-2014, 10:10 PM
There's been a few discussions about VFD's here but the search engine hasn't improved and I don't think this concept has been brought up.
Im thinking (this is where my problems start) of building a large wood lathe for turning bowls. Variable speed is essential with possible a stepped pulley arrangement to get ranges. A VFD seems to be a no brainer for speed adjustment.
Single phase input VFD's seem to max out at 3hp. A wood lathe shouldn't need more than 1 maybe 1 1/2 hp think my current Rockwell has a 1 HP. I have a high quality 5 HP 3 phase motor that was on my compressor when I bought it. With soft start on the VFD and maximum current setting capabilities could you run that 5HP motor with reduced load. Would save me buying a motor (remember I like recycling) and the larger frame size should make it run smoother (same as the super large frame 1HP motor on the Hardinge lathe.
With soft start ramping the speed up will the current draw not be lower than the surge current to instantly start a motor. Possibly within the capabilities of the 3HP VFD. In the event of an overload (me going into orbit off the end of a chisel if I take too deep a cut) would the current settings in the VFD not protect itself.
Would appreciate some input before I talk to suppliers and sound like the fool I aspire to be.
Thanks
Im thinking (this is where my problems start) of building a large wood lathe for turning bowls. Variable speed is essential with possible a stepped pulley arrangement to get ranges. A VFD seems to be a no brainer for speed adjustment.
Single phase input VFD's seem to max out at 3hp. A wood lathe shouldn't need more than 1 maybe 1 1/2 hp think my current Rockwell has a 1 HP. I have a high quality 5 HP 3 phase motor that was on my compressor when I bought it. With soft start on the VFD and maximum current setting capabilities could you run that 5HP motor with reduced load. Would save me buying a motor (remember I like recycling) and the larger frame size should make it run smoother (same as the super large frame 1HP motor on the Hardinge lathe.
With soft start ramping the speed up will the current draw not be lower than the surge current to instantly start a motor. Possibly within the capabilities of the 3HP VFD. In the event of an overload (me going into orbit off the end of a chisel if I take too deep a cut) would the current settings in the VFD not protect itself.
Would appreciate some input before I talk to suppliers and sound like the fool I aspire to be.
Thanks
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Greg
Greg