Burgerkong
Well-known member
Anyone have a preference? I know Reeves drive gets worse over time and needs to be maintained and rebuilt once in a while, but aside from that it's a neater package than the VFD combo.
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VFD (3PH) or Reeves Drive for Drill Presses
- Thread starter Burgerkong
- Start date
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Reeves drive will give you more torque at low speeds, the VFD won't. Another big issue is that a lot of older motors will not cool properly at low speeds. So if you have the motor turning real slow and you have a big 1" drill, the motor will probably overheat.
OP
Burgerkong
Well-known member
Reeves drive will give you more torque at low speeds, the VFD won't. Another big issue is that a lot of older motors will not cool properly at low speeds. So if you have the motor turning real slow and you have a big 1" drill, the motor will probably overheat.
What about changing the belt to the high torque low speed setup? I guess the whole point of the VFD is to avoid having to manually change speeds, but that's also an option no?
I don't see a single advantage to a Reeves drive including torque.
With a VFD you can still position the belt/pulley to a low speed range in order to maximize torque. (ie you get the best of both worlds)
Reeves drives need to be run thru the entire speed range daily. Parts are extremely expensive and they're noisy.
With a VFD you can still position the belt/pulley to a low speed range in order to maximize torque. (ie you get the best of both worlds)
Reeves drives need to be run thru the entire speed range daily. Parts are extremely expensive and they're noisy.
rsanter
Well-known member
VFD all the way.
If you are going to be doing lots of low speed drilling then you can add a small computer box fan to the end of the motor to sumliment cooling.
For we at home you should not have a high enough duty cycle for it to matter.
For commercial use you can get an inverter duty motor,that has a beefed up cooling system to handle extended low speed running.
Yes you can have torque fall off at low speeds with a VFD, however there are VFDs available that can be programmed to minimize the the low speed torque loss ( but they cost more)
On a step pulley machine you still want to move the belt to the closest speed range to what you will be using . This gives you the best torque and still maintain the adjustability
Bob
If you are going to be doing lots of low speed drilling then you can add a small computer box fan to the end of the motor to sumliment cooling.
For we at home you should not have a high enough duty cycle for it to matter.
For commercial use you can get an inverter duty motor,that has a beefed up cooling system to handle extended low speed running.
Yes you can have torque fall off at low speeds with a VFD, however there are VFDs available that can be programmed to minimize the the low speed torque loss ( but they cost more)
On a step pulley machine you still want to move the belt to the closest speed range to what you will be using . This gives you the best torque and still maintain the adjustability
Bob
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a VFD on my Reeves drive drill press...
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NOZZLEMAN
Well-known member
Look at the Ellis drill press... uses best of both. Pricey... but for metalworking it's THEE bomb. I've had one for several years & guys come over and use and then go buy one.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don't see where the Eliis use a Reeves drive, it looks like it's a pure inverter driven package with multi-diameter sheave. It's a nice setup, I wasn't aware that Ellis made that machine. I'm interested now that I see it.