Convert drill press to variable speed

[jblnut]

My farm shop drill press has seen better days and either needs to be upgraded with a new motor and a variable speed drive or needs to be replaced all together. The arbor and everything is in decent shape it just majorly lacks in power and using a power strip for a power switch lately is getting old

Has anyone converted a drill press into a variable speed drill press ?? I'm more than capable/willing to do the work but have little ambition to put the hours of research into which motor and which VFD are the ones to go with. If anyone has done this I'd love to have a few model numbers of motors/VFD's to start with.

A quick Googling session lent me a few ideas. Any one brand of VFD better than another ?? Motors I can find, it's really just the VFD I have questions about.

VFD->http://www.factorymation.com/FM50-2...531skZ-Hch-IvD94pTyL3TNOKs7AbrioaAiz6EALw_wcB


Here is a picture of the ol' girl to spark your interest in saving an old tool. Anyone recognize what brand it is ?? I can't find any markings anywhere on it anymore.

 

[FrankLee]

Anyone recognize what brand it is ??

That's a craftsman made by Emerson electric. It's their second gen for craftsman.


Is the feed return spring not working?

I have a usable belt cover and several front panels if you're interested... cheap! Like for shipping cheap.

 

[gamescastspencer]

Late 60's Craftsman if memory serves right. Was a transition era design from the 100/150 design to the mid 70's design.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[seber]

Converting that to VFD is certainly possible, but it would cost way more than the dp is worth. If you want to do it, I would't use anything less than Teco. There are better ones but that will work and be reliable. You will also need a three phase motor and 220VAC. Though I have heard that there are now versions that run on 115VAC. I haven't checked into it. You will still need to install an on off switch. On the other hand, it will give you the option of reverse to center bits and back out taps.

 

[jonesg]

Converting that to VFD is certainly possible, but it would cost way more than the dp is worth. If you want to do it, I would't use anything less than Teco. There are better ones but that will work and be reliable. You will also need a three phase motor and 220VAC. Though I have heard that there are now versions that run on 115VAC. I haven't checked into it. You will still need to install an on off switch. On the other hand, it will give you the option of reverse to center bits and back out taps.

90v dc motor, same as on a sherline lathe.
$240.
https://sherline.com/product/33050-dc-motor-speed-control-units/

 

[454ragtop]

I'd get a 1 HP 3 phase motor and this VFD http://dealerselectric.com/FM50-101-C.asp

 

[shawhite]

3phase motors are cheap on eBay. I got a 1hr Baldor NOS for $75 shipped about a year ago. Teco drives are pretty reliable.

 

[jblnut]

Being as I am still a little new to the world of the vfd, do I need a two-horse drive to run a one horse motor if my input is going to be 120 volts? I will more than likely be hooking it up into a 240 volt line anyway I'm just curious.

 

[Packard V8]

Old treadmills with DC motors are often available for free. Some disassembly and fabrication of mounts and pulleys is definitely required. And yes, they're all slightly different, so you'll have to do the homework you don't want to do.

Three-phase motors of 1hp or less are thick on the ground for cheap. The TECO VFD, either 115v or 230v, is $150, but works wonderfully well.

Bottom line, it's not easy and it's not cheap, but definitely worth the effort

jack vines

 

[jblnut]

I haven't thought of using an old treadmill motor and variable speed. That might be a fun project. Fabricating mounts and brackets and whatnot doesn't scare me or drive me away from doing something I just need to weigh the time investment versus buying something that already fits my needs. I don't have a problem throwing some money at this old drill press as it has served us well over the years.

 

[marinusdees]

If the power supply from the treadmill is missing or unusable, one solution is to use a 1000 watt rotary dimmer and a full wave bridge rectifier. This allows you to vary the power while in use in response to the load as needed , like a variable speed portable drill. I use a variation on this theme using a 1 hp baldor permanent magnet (which is what a treadmill motor is) motor I scrounged from an electric motor repair shop. I really like to increase power as I increase down pressure, and also use a soft touch while tapping, as well as reversing instantly. I added a 10 ampere mini circuit breaker to protect the dimmer but rarely trip it.
This is a very low budget unsophisticated unelegant farmer's way of doing it, but has worked for me for years. Destroyed one dimmer, $25 on ebay at the time, which prompted addition of the circuit breaker. I have another, larger drill press with a VFD, but the PM motor is my go-to tool 96% of the time.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

3ph motor on CL for 20 or 30 bucks.

Watch ebay and get Teco for under a hundred.

I got 3 pairs of this waiting for my job job to slow down so I can set up my DP, mill drill, and 6x48 Rockwell sander.

Easy breezy

 

[454ragtop]

Being as I am still a little new to the world of the vfd, do I need a two-horse drive to run a one horse motor if my input is going to be 120 volts? I will more than likely be hooking it up into a 240 volt line anyway I'm just curious.

No need to derate a drive which is setup for single phase input, 1HP VFD is good for a 1 HP motor. You need to decide whether you want a 120 volt input or a 240, they don't interchange. I find 120 to be more convenient for 1 HP or less, but if you want to go 240 volt input, get something like this http://dealerselectric.com/L510-201-H1-N.asp

 

[whateg01]

I have read, and IRL found, that a 3ph motor lacks torque at low rpm. I can stall the 2hp motor on my lathe if not in backgear at low rpm. That's the advantage of a DC motor. It has gobs of low end torque. You can get around the low end torque problem of an AC motor, but it gets expensive.

What do you use the drill press for? Wood, metal, other?


Dave

 

[jblnut]

Typically 5/8-1 1/8" holes in 16ga-3/4" thick mild steel. Low speed and instant reversing seem like they'd be nice.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I am a fan of industrial grade DC motors and varIable speed drives on drill presses. They do not audibly whine like VFDs and they are really easy to set up. I usually buy NOS motors and used drives.