Leaky88
Well-known member
Found a BP Vertical Mill, Series I, step pulley. It has a 1HP 220V 3phase motor. I have 220 in my shop. I've heard both good and bad about the VFD. Any recommendations on brands. Thanks. Leaky
Phase Converter or VFD
- Thread starter Leaky88
- Start date
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The Teco FM50 1hp VFD is inexpensive and works well. I have a couple in my shop and have had no issues with them. On 1hp motors I use the 110v inlet model for flexibility. Over 1hp you are using a 220v supply. Highly recommended.
rsanter
Well-known member
Vfd is the only wat to go
A solid state converter will work but you will loose about one third of the rated HP of the motor.
A rotary phase converter will give you 95-98% of the rated HP of the motor but a VFD will give you that too and cost less. Plus you will get the variable speed as well.
I had a converter on my mill. Changed it to a Vfd and that was the best thing I did
Bob
A solid state converter will work but you will loose about one third of the rated HP of the motor.
A rotary phase converter will give you 95-98% of the rated HP of the motor but a VFD will give you that too and cost less. Plus you will get the variable speed as well.
I had a converter on my mill. Changed it to a Vfd and that was the best thing I did
Bob
Bob Warner
Active member
The VFD also gives you options the converter does not. You can put your mill on the fastest speed and use the VFD for variable speed, remote on/off, forward and reverse plus a host of other possibilities.
I have built many rotary phase converters and they work well bt they are no comparison to a VFD.
I have built many rotary phase converters and they work well bt they are no comparison to a VFD.
kazlx
Well-known member
Eh, I much prefer an RPC. I have a 15HP wired for my whole shop with outlets for all my machines. Basically mimics 3 phase shop wiring and the machines work just as they would in a 3 phase shop. I think it is way easier to use the machine controls, so you know what speeds you are getting. Works great. I used a Teco VFD on my lathe and couldn't slow it down for very long without the VFD over heating and shutting off. As you start getting into higher HP requirements, VFDs get expensive fast. I think my next step will be a digital phase converter.
That being said, for one machine, a VFD is an easy way to go.
That being said, for one machine, a VFD is an easy way to go.
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DocsMachine
Well-known member
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- Sep 16, 2006
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-I'm curious to know what you've heard 'bad' about VFDs. Apart from the cost, especially of the larger ones, there's very few downsides and the features are ideal for mills and lathes.
Doc.
fnieto
Well-known member
If you plan on buying more three phase machines a RPC is the most cost effective choice. A VFD is a great option for a single mill. I run nine differant three phase machines on a single RPC with no issues. I recently added a VFD to a plate roller, after a complete rewire and design, this thing is 10 x the machine it was but still utilized the RPC for main power. The roller now has variable speed control,motor brake,hour meter, torque control,intergraded safety cutoff, e-stop and can be auto tuned via laptop. Hitachi WJ 200.
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Strouty
Well-known member
The only thing I could see is if you buy a really cheap brand VFD, or if you have all the parts to build a rotary phase converter on hand. Other than that my only issue with the VFD is the delay that it has from forward to reverse, the rotary phase converter seems to be "instant" without a bunch of extra tuning and wiring.
For things that you do not need to reverse instantly, a VFD would be my choice hands down.
bczygan
Well-known member
I'm putting a VFD on my mill!
VFD, especially since it is a step pulley machine and only 1hp.
Depends on the vfd, once you get into the mid range units, they have a programmable, trigger-able decel, stop, reverse and accel back up to speed feature that makes them darn near instant. I have a Lenze with that feature.
Depends on the vfd, once you get into the mid range units, they have a programmable, trigger-able decel, stop, reverse and accel back up to speed feature that makes them darn near instant. I have a Lenze with that feature.
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paranoid56
Well-known member
i did the cheap phase converter for 40 bucks. works great
racingtadpole
Well-known member
You'll need to check to see if you have both ends of the windings in the motors terminal box. If you don't you won't be able to use a VFD or you will have to have a motor specialist pluck them out for you.
454ragtop
Well-known member
Huh? VFD connects to the same wires as a reg. 3 phase line would, minus any switches. A VFD is the way to go, even more so being a step pulley machine.
Jim
I have the same mill. It came with a solid state converter from single phase to 3 phase. When the converter burned up, I bought a Hitachi VFD (new) on ebay for about $100. Installed it, and I leave the belt on the pulleys where it's closest to 1:1 and use the VFD as a phase converter and motor speed control. No point in getting a phase converter when the VFD is close in price.
racingtadpole
Well-known member
Some single to three phase VFD's won't run a motor wired in star, you have to use delta meaning you need both ends of the windings available.
454ragtop
Well-known member
I wonder if that is an Australian thing? I've installed probably 10 VFD's or more, and never ran into it, or even ever saw it mentioned in the installation manual. At any rate, I'm certain a single phase to 3 phase VFD will work fine for the machine in question.
Jim