Lathe motors

[God mode restorations]

Evening guys.
Just a question. I have my eye on a couple of ward capstan lathes. Now these are 3 phase machines...can the motors be swapped for 240v single phase..if so is it a complicated job or is there more involved in just a motors swap...

 

[hareng]

Have used Ward 2's and 3's, smallest I think was a 3hp motor and 5hp for the 3.
Easy on the 2 but would have to choose a motor with the specific spindle diameter to match the pulleys which would limit things down substantially. Newer modern motor will be a lot smaller and may need to improvise the mounting.
May need a direct feed with C type mcb and DOL switch.

 

[Bill Edwards]

IF the motors are within the power capabilities it could well be possible to run them off a cheap inverter, this also gives the advantage of variable speed control plus reversing. Might be worth a look here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/can-this-motor-run-on-single-phase.74101/ as I have just got my 3ph machine running this way.

 

[God mode restorations]

An interesting thread there Bill...my knowledge of electrics is very limited. Some of the capstan lathes I have looked at are 3 phase and run between 3.5 hp. 5 hp. But the 3 phase lathes are cheep...does the same method apply with the 3 phase pillar drills...

 

[God mode restorations]

I have seen single phase 5hp 3.7kw motors for sale. Would this be the route I would need to go down.

 

[Bill Edwards]

As far as I understand using the inverter can work on any ordinary three phase motor. If the data plate says it'll run on 220v or you can find the appropriate wires inside it'll run at full power, if it only says 400v and with only three wires it'll still run - as mine is doing - but you lose some torque at the top end of the motor speed. This may or may not matter depending on your intended use, from a quick play with mine I can take as heavy cuts as I need with no sign of the motor slowing down at all, I doubt it's a big issue unless you're looking to work things hard.

How much a suitable inverter would cost for those sizes I'm not sure, I can't even remember exactly what my inverter cost, it's a good while since I bought it - around 100 I think.

Please remember however that this is just what I have learnt this past week or so from my lathe purchase, before parting with any hard earned I suggest checking it all out yourself, there's me who has got one running and there are those who know what they're doing!

I'd have thought those single phase motors would be ideal if you wanted to go down that route. Probably not cheap, but if you know any abandoned milking parlours they use some decent motors - that was my backup plan!

 

[God mode restorations]

As far as I understand using the inverter can work on any ordinary three phase motor. If the data plate says it'll run on 220v or you can find the appropriate wires inside it'll run at full power, if it only says 400v and with only three wires it'll still run - as mine is doing - but you lose some torque at the top end of the motor speed. This may or may not matter depending on your intended use, from a quick play with mine I can take as heavy cuts as I need with no sign of the motor slowing down at all, I doubt it's a big issue unless you're looking to work things hard.

How much a suitable inverter would cost for those sizes I'm not sure, I can't even remember exactly what my inverter cost, it's a good while since I bought it - around 100 I think.

Please remember however that this is just what I have learnt this past week or so from my lathe purchase, before parting with any hard earned I suggest checking it all out yourself, there's me who has got one running and there are those who know what they're doing!

I'd have thought those single phase motors would be ideal if you wanted to go down that route. Probably not cheap, but if you know any abandoned milking parlours they use some decent motors - that was my backup plan!

Cheers for your post Bill...i can get a better understanding of it all..