Clausing Model 1685 Drill Press

[Thumper68]

I got this in a online auction today and have a few questions/decisions that I need to make to get it set up in the shop.

I spent a few minutes with the tape measure last weekend I have the perfect spot picked out.

Clausing Model 1685 Drill Press. 7" Throat, 39 3/4"x24" Plan Production Table, Variable Spindle Speeds: 400 to 2640 RPM, #2 MT, 3/4HP 208-230/460 Volt 3-Phase Motor and Controls, s/n: 513752. Approx 45"x34"x73" Note: Damage to left side of oil trough

What do you guys think should I go with a VFD or change out the motor.
Right now it has a 1140 rpm 3 ph 3/4 hp.

I was thinking that since it already had a great range of speeds I would go to a 1ph 1 hp motor

I can repair the coolant trough, braze in some steel.

 

[dr_clyde]

Personally I would do a VFD.

 

[Lx460]

Kinda curious how much it went for? I just picked up this one on CL. Paid $200

 

[Thumper68]

Kinda curious how much it went for? I just picked up this one on CL. Paid $200

I paid (will pay) $240+ fees + tax

 

[Lx460]

Good score. I know mine almost killed me unloading it. That one is going to be even heavier...lol

 

[Thumper68]

Good score. I know mine almost killed me unloading it. That one is going to be even heavier...lol

I will have my buddy come over with his skid steer with the forks and unload it for me.

 

[exmaxima1]

Personally I would do a VFD.

+1

That's already a slow speed motor, so it will be rare to run a VFD much below 60 hz. So the motor torque will remain high, and little risk of overheating the motor from inadequate cooling. If it were a 1800 or 3600 rpm motor, and the intent was to run low speeds, I would advise to get the single phase motor of the appropriate rpm. I run a 1140 rpm motor on a similar variable speed drill press, and I have found little need for anything slower.

 

[Thumper68]

In another thread Kevin54 suggested that I not repair the trough but cut it all off so it is not a chip collector, after thinking about it I think I will cut the rest of the broken end off and clean it up, leaving the rest, that way I can easily brush the chips into the chip bucket but not have them all over the floor.

I found a teco VFD for 120 shipped that will run this just fine, I need to get it home and take a look at what is there before I order, who knows there might be a vfd in the box on the side already.

This will be sitting between a post and the spot where my jib crane will be and I have run 240 power under the floor to the jib crane so it will be easy to install power.

I will have to order some leveling feet (or make some) but that is the fun part right?

 

[rsanter]

Use the cheapest TECO VFD that has the push buttons only and not the speed control knob as you only really need it for phase conversion.

Leave the trough as is and just grind the broken edges smooth. Put a bucket under the broken part and cut a piece of sheetmetal the shape of the inside of the trough so you can use it to push the chips to the broken part to drop into the bucket

Bob

 

[chrispyny]

Kinda curious how much it went for? I just picked up this one on CL. Paid $200

You thief! So jealous!

 

[Thumper68]

Use the cheapest TECO VFD that has the push buttons only and not the speed control knob as you only really need it for phase conversion.

Leave the trough as is and just grind the broken edges smooth. Put a bucket under the broken part and cut a piece of sheetmetal the shape of the inside of the trough so you can use it to push the chips to the broken part to drop into the bucket

Bob

That was my plan, I will have to get it into place and see how I will have to do it.

 

[Thumper68]

Got it home in one piece and everything looks good, little to no run out in the quill and the variable speed works, I will need to source/make a depth stop and in the future I will pull it apart and strip the poor paint and give it a nice new color. (Hammered Green of course.)

I ordered the VFD today and had it shipped to the shop so I should have it running this weekend.

Question, right now it has a 3ph on/off switch can I leave that inline before the vfd and use it?

 

[dr_clyde]

Got it home in one piece and everything looks good, little to no run out in the quill and the variable speed works, I will need to source/make a depth stop and in the future I will pull it apart and strip the poor paint and give it a nice new color. (Hammered Green of course.)

I ordered the VFD today and had it shipped to the shop so I should have it running this weekend.

Question, right now it has a 3ph on/off switch can I leave that inline before the vfd and use it?

If it's before the VFD, no, but after, I believe so.

 

[A_Pmech]

Use the old switch to control the VFD.

 

[454ragtop]

A better way to do it would be to wire that switch to the low voltage controls of the VFD and use it to control the VFD's starting of the motor. At least that is how I would do it.
Jim

 

[Thumper68]

If it's before the VFD, no, but after, I believe so.

Use the old switch to control the VFD.

Okay 2 conflicting opinions.

I think that you are not supposed to cut power to the vfd, at least that is what the instructions that came with my last one said.

 

[Thumper68]

A better way to do it would be to wire that switch to the low voltage controls of the VFD and use it to control the VFD's starting of the motor. At least that is how I would do it.
Jim

That was another way to do it that I was trying to avoid, not for any real good reason other than I would have to run the wire and read the directions on which terminals to use.

 

[catalytic]

Okay 2 conflicting opinions.

I think that you are not supposed to cut power to the vfd, at least that is what the instructions that came with my last one said.

Careful -- do this wrong and you'll smoke your VFD.

NEVER put a switch BETWEEN the VFD and the motor. The VFD should have its output (usually marked T1, T2, T3) HARD-WIRED directly to the motor.

Connect Line (wall/plug) => VFD => Motor.

Then (optional) connect the 12/24v control terminals on your VFD to an external switch, such as the one already on your drill.

You can also (optional) have a switch between the line (wall/plug) and the VFD so you don't have to unplug your VFD to turn it off. I DON'T recommend using the switch already on your drill press for this -- too much temptation to hit it while the machine is running.

 

[dr_clyde]

I would follow the advice of a qualified electrician on this.

My thinking was the input power wouldn't be correct for the 3 phase switch, but you may be able to omit wires and continue on to the VFD. I'll be the first to admit I don't deal with VFDs much, as I have 3 phase power.

 

[Thumper68]

After the thoughts posted here I will bypass the switch for now and if needed in the future I will use the low voltage controls to wire in the switch, I'm mounting the VFD right there anyway.

Thanks for all the info and advise

 

[Thumper68]

The vfd is supposed to get here tomorrow, but stupid me bought the wrong plug so I will have to wait to get it running.

I also decided that it doesn't fit where I wanted it to, so I am going to have to make some risers to clear a obstruction which is okay the table is a bit low at 34.5 inches, raising it to 37.5

 

[Thumper68]

I built a mount and got the vfd set up today. Then I had to fix the spring.all set to go now. Tomorrow I will try it out.

 

[DanielWard]

To the original poster,

My name is Dan Ward and I am new to this forum. I have been looking for a Clausing drill press and saw your post. First off, nice find. I was wondering if I could call you? I have a few questions regarding switching motors as I too do not have three phase and I would like to understand better my options if I find a three phase dp that I end up buying. I'm located in madison wi. Could you provide me with your phone number so I could call you to ask you a few questions? Or if you prefer, my cell is 608-770-1414. If you prefer, you could text me and I could call you back. Thank you in advance and once again, very nice acquisition. I also watched your video on auction advice. Well done sir.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[tedsters]

If my thinking is correct you should be able to hook the VFD up to a reversable switch being the motor is 3 phase you can bring that thing to a crawl and tap with it if need be

 

[454ragtop]

If my thinking is correct you should be able to hook the VFD up to a reversable switch being the motor is 3 phase you can bring that thing to a crawl and tap with it if need be

Actually the VFD is setup for fwd/rev in the low voltage controls, dead simple.

 

[Thumper68]

To the original poster,

My name is Dan Ward and I am new to this forum. I have been looking for a Clausing drill press and saw your post. First off, nice find. I was wondering if I could call you? I have a few questions regarding switching motors as I too do not have three phase and I would like to understand better my options if I find a three phase dp that I end up buying. I'm located in madison wi. Could you provide me with your phone number so I could call you to ask you a few questions? Or if you prefer, my cell is 608-770-1414. If you prefer, you could text me and I could call you back. Thank you in advance and once again, very nice acquisition. I also watched your video on auction advice. Well done sir.

Thanks,

Dan

I'll PM you my number, just give me a few days I have a ton of stuff going on right now.

If my thinking is correct you should be able to hook the VFD up to a reversable switch being the motor is 3 phase you can bring that thing to a crawl and tap with it if need be

You really don't want to run the VFD any lower than 30htz for a long time, the motor can over heat and it is my understanding that under 20htz you lose all torque

Actually the VFD is setup for fwd/rev in the low voltage controls, dead simple.

^^^ This

 

[Gokart]

I'll PM you my number, just give me a few days I have a ton of stuff going on right now.




You really don't want to run the VFD any lower than 30htz for a long time, the motor can over heat and it is my understanding that under 20htz you lose all torque


^^^ This

This is not necessarily true. If you utilize a drive with a constant torque motor control setting (and the drive is programmed correctly), you have 100% of the available torque at 0.0 speed.

Heat issues come into play when you run below 10-15 hz (depending on the motor type) for long periods of time. In the case of a drill press (frequent On/Offs) I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[sailah]

I have my Powermatic 1200 running a TECO FM50 VFD. The press is a 1HP, 3 phase motor.

I used FWD/REV switches, JOG and a speed potentiometer to control the VFD remotely. Works awesome, highly highly recommended over a single phase motor. Probably cheaper too.

Still need to build a cover or move the VFD now that I don't need it front and center as I originally was using it to control press