Horizontal mill?

[Wendelspanswick]

When I looked at this the best option was a rotary, btw the mill might not be the only machine you get, lathe, drill, big belt sander

Nothing to stop Maker running additional kit from a VFD. My VFD runs a lathe, mill, iron worker, shaper and pillar drill. I use a static converter to run my universal woodworking machine but only because it has 7.5hp electric motors and the limit on my VFD is 4hp.

 

[Maker]

I could use this VFD for other machines I might get, I'm never gonna need to have two machines running at the same time.
I don't thing a genny is a good idea because it's gonna be noisy, fumey and expensive to run.

 

[shedfull]

Nothing to stop Maker running additional kit from a VFD.

I was thinking more long term, as you collect machines converting motors, switch gear, lighting (that goes out when you turn off the inverter) all that is a pain when you want use it now.

Inverter set for one machine might not be the best for another (ramp times, braking) dual set up vfd?

I thought the genny was a good idea as when you add up installing a SWA, a bigger breaker in the Consumer unit an isolator in the garage, a dis board, cable to wire up the garage, 3 phase sockets and buy the inverter, £219 or whatever it was for the genny was cheap and quick.

stick it out in the now vacant shed an extension lead and "where those end mills?"

take the genny with u to test the next machine u buy go camping etc etc

Lee

 

[Maker]

When you put it like that, it does sound quite good but it's still more expensive in the long run (petrol & maintenance) and unfortunately the shed isn't vacant, we've got a treadmill (not that anyone uses it) and camping gear out there.

Why would the lighting go off when the inverter does? It didn't come with a light any I'm gonna make a low voltage LED light.

 

[shedfull]

Ahh I was thinking as a Temporary solution, get the mill running, no poncing about with motors, switch gear etc get your mill fettled ( running off the genny to make bits for it if u need to)
You could then set about installing the swa etc etc but still be able to use the mill.

Once the electrical is in and you have the inverter then u can sell the genny

Oh the old insulation on a 3 phase motor might not like being fed 120 Hz from an inverter and bugger up so variable spindle speed is not the be all and end all, its got gears hasn't it?

you'll only need really fast speed for small cutters but even with a vfd I cant see u getting 7000 rpm for a 1 mm drill in steel, for large cutters you'll need slow speeds but will you need a 6" cutter?

a 1/2 " cutter in steel goes about 800 rpm in soft stuff a 1 mm drill will do ok at 1500

I have a vfd on a drill only so I don't have to run a 5hp converter to run a 1 hp motor

Lee

 

[Maker]

I want the speed control to slow it down and to get the speeds in between the speeds available using the gearbox and stepped pulleys.

 

[shedfull]

Why would the lighting go off when the inverter does?

Lots of machines when wired to a real 3 phase supply have task lighting, a light on the machine fed from the 3 phase supply into a transformer, when you feed it from an inverter when you switch off the inverter the light goes off, could be a bit annoying that.

Led is the best bet

 

[shedfull]

If you want to slow it down you'll need a good inverter that will give you torque at low revs, at low revs there might not be much cooling for the motor from the fan

what do you need speeds in between gears for, not having a go, just interested

once you start using it you'll find that you want to go faster to shift metal, so the low speed requirement will go away a bridgeport will only use 3/4 end mills for general stuff and a 4" shell mill for bigger stuff if you want to flycut v8 cylinder heads then yeah you'll need to go a bit slower.

what are the indicated speed ranges?

 

[Pete.]

When you put it like that, it does sound quite good but it's still more expensive in the long run (petrol & maintenance) and unfortunately the shed isn't vacant, we've got a treadmill (not that anyone uses it) and camping gear out there.

A treadmill you say? One with a motor? That no-one uses?

I think we might have a cunning plan.....

 

[AdrianH]

I don’t think that changing from star to delta is that hard, but then again I have done it. This here is my version of a rotary converter, but 240 volt in and 240 volt out.

You can see why I need to keep the door locked, the caps were to balance the Voltage on the 3rd leg.
I have never had the need to vary the speeds on a mill like I do on the lathe, if doing heavy cuts let the gearbox do the work and the motor happy at normal running speed, there is also a lamp across one of the feeds and the pump motor, these have been brought out to a normal mains plug so I do not always need the rotory running all the time.

I have this and if Maker was closer it could have been something to try before he went off playing with new motors, and 3 phase VFD's. Be careful not to keep spending money on things you think you need!



In fact the offer is there to any member as it is sat under the bench normally, to borrow and try out.

Adrian

 

[Pete.]

What's the dirty great resistor on the door used for?

 

[AdrianH]

It reduces the start up surge in current to save my fuses, gets switched out by a relay when the idle motor is up to speed. I think anyhow it was a while ago when I made it.

Adrian

 

[Maker]

A treadmill you say? One with a motor? That no-one uses?

I think we might have a cunning plan.....

Pah, I wish. It's my brother's and although it never gets used, it also won't be sold so there's no way I could be borrowing bits from it.
I did take a treadmill apart once and I kept the motor and some other bits, I'll have a little looksie later. Do you think that could be a good solution?

If variable speed is not needed, I might as well just get a new single phase motor and save myself the money & effort.

 

[Maker]

what are the indicated speed ranges?

100, 150, 225, 330, 500, 760, 1120 and 1700 RPM. The first 4 are with the gears on low...

 

[shedfull]

I think you'll be fine there you don't need to hit the exact speed that a formula gives you, just get to the nearest range you have

you could build a little speeder

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php?topic=3852.0

for really small end mills ( ............but you don't have a lathe yet )

Single phase swap might be the best for this cheap (ish) and quick

 

[shedfull]

once its going

 

[CRB]

I think you'll be fine there you don't need to hit the exact speed that a formula gives you, just get to the nearest range you have

you could build a little speeder

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php?topic=3852.0

for really small end mills ( ............but you don't have a lathe yet )

Single phase swap might be the best for this cheap (ish) and quick

Brilliant link.

 

[Maker]

That speed thing is cool, never seen one like that, I saw one once where someone had used a brushless (RC hobby) motor to get 65,000 RPM to use solid carbide, sub 1 MM end mills.

 

[Maker]

Dad's just sent me an eBay link to a guy selling a 1 horsepower, single phase Brook Compton motor, right near by as well. Apparently it runs very quietly and being of a similar age to the mill, I'll bet that it's got a 3/4" shaft and maybe even the same bolt pattern. Only problem being that it ends whilst I'm gonna be at school.

 

[Spark plug]

Dad's just sent me an eBay link to a guy selling a 1 horsepower, single phase Brook Compton motor, right near by as well. Apparently it runs very quietly and being of a similar age to the mill, I'll bet that it's got a 3/4" shaft and maybe even the same bolt pattern. Only problem being that it ends whilst I'm gonna be at school.

Use one of those eBay sniper / bay genie apps.