And so it begins... Fobco Star motor replacement

[Ubique]

I've just bought this.

With a knowingly faulty three-phase motor, now should I get it rewound or is there an 'upgrade' option?
Single phase or three-phase with VFD?

It's a drill, not a lathe or milling machine so I'm thinking single phase is the most cost effective option, I could always get the faulty motor rewound at some stage & refit with a VFD if my needs change...
Over to you....

 

[Red'n'Black]

I've just bought this.
View attachment 319481
With a knowingly faulty three-phase motor, now should I get it rewound or is there an 'upgrade' option?
Single phase or three-phase with VFD?

It's a drill, not a lathe or milling machine so I'm thinking single phase is the most cost effective option, I could always get the faulty motor rewound at some stage & refit with a VFD if my needs change...
Over to you....

Looks in very nice nick.
I have one, bench top rather than floor standing, even the lowest speed is a bit fast for some jobs so I would probably go the VFD route.

 

[skotl]

Replacement motors are far from expensive - check out 3 phase options from MM Engineering: 4 POLE (1500RPM) THREE PHASE MOTORS(0.09KW TO 3.0KW) – MM ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD (mmengservices.co.uk)

And a VFD for £40 off Amazon...

 

[Ubique]

Looks in very nice nick.
I have one, bench top rather than floor standing, even the lowest speed is a bit fast for some jobs so I would probably go the VFD route.

That's what I thought, there was one nearer to me on fleabay for close on £300 with a good motor but very corroded and battered...
Being freestanding means it doesn't take up bench space, my only consideration about VFD's is the reduction in torque.

 

[skotl]

That's what I thought, there was one nearer to me on fleabay for close on £300 with a good motor but very corroded and battered...
Being freestanding means it doesn't take up bench space, my only consideration about VFD's is the reduction in torque.

Yeah, but you've still got the belts when needed. For most "easy" speed adjustment it's far easier with the twiddly knob

 

[Ubique]

Replacement motors are far from expensive - check out 3 phase options from MM Engineering: 4 POLE (1500RPM) THREE PHASE MOTORS(0.09KW TO 3.0KW) – MM ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD (mmengservices.co.uk)

And a VFD for £40 off Amazon...

Thanks, I'm going to check the motor out when I pick it up - I was wondering where to start looking if indeed it is faulty.

 

[Milkybars]

Find the local rewinders ..see what they say

 

[Ubique]

I've sourced a 'proper' depth stop rather than the ugly M10 threaded bar currently fitted, it also has a 'Albrecht keyless chuck' - now I have keyless chucks on all my handheld drills, are they good enough for pillar drills or should I be looking for something better?

 

[Ubique]

Find the local rewinders ..see what they say

Long Eaton Rewinds are not too far away and I've had stuff rewound by them before, i'll give it a once-over with a Megger first though.

 

[hotponyshoes]

My fobco was originally 3phase but had been converted to single before I got it.
The conversion does not look like anything complicated.
At least on mine it looks like somebody just found a single phase motor which matched the size of the original pulley and bolted it on using enough spacers and packers to suit.

If the single phase motor ever dies then ideally I would like to replace it with the original 3phase (or at least one with the correct footplate pattern) and run it from a vfd for rapid speed changes and add a foot pedal for start/stop.
In reality, I have another motor the same as the one that's currently fitted so I expect I'd just fit that instead!

 

[Ubique]

I like the footpedal idea, might even look at making it variable speed too.
I think I'm sold on the three-phase+VFD idea now....

 

[merryman]

Problem with stars is the shaft size/length for the motor. Not cheap to get one the same. My star had been fitted with a single phase motor which did have the right shaft but was a bit tired. I'm also fairly sure it isn't the right speed but I never bother changing belt speeds anyway, does anyone?

I have just fitted a keyless chuck to the pillar drill at work, it is the same as the one I have on my centre lathe and, on that, it is great. Didn't realise until after fitting but there is nothing to keep the quill still on a pillar drill, try it and see if you can live with it.

 

[Ubique]

Problem with stars is the shaft size/length for the motor. Not cheap to get one the same. My star had been fitted with a single phase motor which did have the right shaft but was a bit tired. I'm also fairly sure it isn't the right speed but I never bother changing belt speeds anyway, does anyone?

I have just fitted a keyless chuck to the pillar drill at work, it is the same as the one I have on my centre lathe and, on that, it is great. Didn't realise until after fitting but there is nothing to keep the quill still on a pillar drill, try it and see if you can live with it.

Good point, I guess it depends on how good a wrist action you have...

 

[GraemeVW]

I've sourced a 'proper' depth stop rather than the ugly M10 threaded bar currently fitted, it also has a 'Albrecht keyless chuck' - now I have keyless chucks on all my handheld drills, are they good enough for pillar drills or should I be looking for something better?

Albrecht chucks have a very good reputation. They are expensive even second hand!


By the way, marketplace has a badly listed floor standing fobco star in rugby. Good price too.
I was going to put the link in the eBay sales area but seems I'm.not aloud to post there yet.
If anyone near rugby wants one, I'll send the link.

 

[eddie49]

Didn't realise until after fitting but there is nothing to keep the quill still on a pillar drill, try it and see if you can live with it.

I don't see one on your Fobco, but many Albrecht chucks have a knurled collar on the arbour that allows a two-handed tightening action.

 

[Ubique]

I don't see one on your Fobco, but many Albrecht chucks have a knurled collar on the arbour that allows a two-handed tightening action.

Similar to the old Metabo ones then?

Looks like there is something to grip, time will tell...

 

[Arc Tourist]

................................. - now I have keyless chucks on all my handheld drills, are they good enough for pillar drills or should I be looking for something better?

At my age I find keyless chucks a bit difficult to grip tightly, so prefer the standard keyed versions. Modifying golf ball's for handles on chuck key's works a treat, and provides greater tightening leverage. They also work great for file handles too.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

That paintwork looks great condition for that age machine , I have used pillar drills with keyless chucks found them pretty crap in my opinion especially getting to large dia drills just slipped and cant properly tighten down with your mutts like the leverage you get from a key

 

[Ubique]

I know what you mean, I've put burrs on drill bits with keyless chucks that wouldn't have happened with a Jacobs.... The chuck might well be for sale once everyone forgets this thread...

 

[skotl]

I know what you mean, I've put burrs on drill bits with keyless chucks that wouldn't have happened with a Jacobs.... The chuck might well be for sale once everyone forgets this thread...

Totally agree. I bought a cheap keyless chuck a few years ago and it was a toy.
funnily enough I just took delivery of a “heavy duty keyless” from arc euro trade yesterday - not tried it yet but will report back when I have.