New motor for lathe

[MattF]

Considering changing the motor on my Drummond lathe. Currently a ⅓HP motor that's on there. Tends to bog down readily, so thinking of either a ½HP else ¾HP motor, but can't decide which. Would a ½ offer much improvement, or is ¾ best? Also trying to decide if a ¾ may be too much, & risk damaging something on the machine if the tool jams in a cut, or suchlike. Opinions most welcome on the matter.

 

[brightspark]

half will be fine, if u can get a 3/4 cheap enough get it fitted .even a half hp will bust stuff if u get carried away and have a dig in with the tool on to the chuck or the workpiece a myford ml7 is fitted with a half hp the super 7 has a 3/4 as it has a higher speed than the 7

 

[MattF]

There's only around a tenner difference in price between a new ½ or ¾.

 

[brightspark]

There's only around a tenner difference in price between a new ½ or ¾.

get the 3./4 then

 

[Arc Tourist]

Considering changing the motor on my Drummond lathe. Currently a ⅓HP motor that's on there. Tends to bog down readily, so thinking of either a ½HP else ¾HP motor, but can't decide which. Would a ½ offer much improvement, or is ¾ best? Also trying to decide if a ¾ may be too much, & risk damaging something on the machine if the tool jams in a cut, or suchlike. Opinions most welcome on the matter.

One thing you need to consider, is that most new replacement motors come with both Foot and also Face mounting capability, and the mounting plate distance "may" affect the pully alinement. I found this to be the case when I bought a new 1/2 hp. motor to replace the 1/3 hp. motor that originally came with my Boxford lathe, so I had to make an offset adapter plate for belt alignment; which worked fine. Hopefully your lathe may not require it, but here are are photos of how I resolved the issue.

 

[Smouser]

One thing you need to consider, is that most new replacement motors come with both Foot and also Face mounting capability, and the mounting plate distance "may" affect the pully alinement. I found this to be the case when I bought a new 1/2 hp. motor to replace the 1/3 hp. motor that originally came with my Boxford lathe, so I had to make an offset adapter plate for belt alignment; which worked fine. Hopefully your lathe may not require it, but here are are photos of how I resolved the issue.

Nice!

I have gone the easy route a couple of times (donkey saw and Elliott lathe) and bought motor slides.

They are fairly inexpensive from here.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Nice!

I have gone the easy route a couple of times (donkey saw and Elliott lathe) and bought motor slides.

View attachment 500845

They are fairly inexpensive from here.

Wish I knew. Well, at least the sense of accomplishment, and only costing me my time and a piece of scrap plate, brought smile to my face.

 

[not done it yet]

I, of course, would fit a 3 phase motor with VFD. More money, maybe, but far superior in operation. But possibly depends on the condition of the lathe and what use it is put to.

All my main machines (lathe, mills and surface grinder) all run with 3 phase motors.

 

[Arc Tourist]

As I'm retired, and its just a home hobby workshop, I went with a single phase motor for my lathe. For the three phase machines I have, I put phase converters in a plug and play box; which works for me.

 

[Turbo]

I, of course, would fit a 3 phase motor with VFD. More money, maybe, but far superior in operation. But possibly depends on the condition of the lathe and what use it is put to.

All my main machines (lathe, mills and surface grinder) all run with 3 phase motors.

That would be my suggestion too. You can get away with a smaller hp motor too as the 3ph motor has a lot more torque than a 1ph.

 

[tigdlo]

I've got a 1/2HP 3 phase resilient mount motor running on a VFD on my Myfor ML7, it is very smooth, plenty of power/torque to do as much work as you can expect from a lathe of it's size.

 

[Guineafowl]

As I'm retired, and its just a home hobby workshop, I went with a single phase motor for my lathe. For the three phase machines I have, I put phase converters in a plug and play box; which works for me.View attachment 500854View attachment 500855

Can you tell us a bit about those converters? I’ve not seen them on sale here. It looks like you’ve got them set up to power on without the motor connected, then switch at the machine itself?

Had a recent discussion here about them:

How to 3ph table saw on 1ph supply

Good evening, i have bought myself a multico a3 table saw. Wich is 3 phase, thinking ill just swap a motor for single phase and jobs done. But found out that it might be possible to use vfd to run a 3ph motor on normal supply. Just wanted to ask if someone knows if my motor is compable for...

www.ukworkshop.co.uk

A chap called Dabop was saying they’re pure sine and 400V out, and something about Y/delta output which doesn’t seem to make sense.

 

[MattF]

I've ordered a 3phase, ¾hp off Ebay. Worked out around same price as a single phase ½hp motor, & I already have some inverters.

 

[Smouser]

I've ordered a 3phase, ¾hp off Ebay. Worked out around same price as a single phase ½hp motor, & I already have some inverters.

Time to look for some new cheap VFD deals as one will now be used.....

Your stock is dwindling!

 

[Arc Tourist]

Can you tell us a bit about those converters? I’ve not seen them on sale here. It looks like you’ve got them set up to power on without the motor connected, then switch at the machine itself?

................

I bought them on ebay. The seller asked for information about the motor's on the machines, and then recommended which phase converter would be appropriate before purchase. I have not had any problems with the converters, and they were reasonably priced. I did have to replace the on / off switch on each machine, which was necessary to work with the converter's.

I decided to set up the box this way, as it can easily be removed in the future and installed on the wall at a convenient location next to a 240 volt supply when I build the a new garage at our project home. Simply plug the box into the 240 V outlet, turn it on, ( Note: I don't leave the converters powered up when not needed. ) , plug a machine into the box, and use the on & off switch at the machine as you normally would.

 

[Guineafowl]

I bought them on ebay. The seller asked for information about the motor's on the machines, and then recommended which phase converter would be appropriate before purchase. I have not had any problems with the converters, and they were reasonably priced. I did have to replace the on / off switch on each machine, which was necessary to work with the converter's.

I decided to set up the box this way, as it can easily be removed in the future and installed on the wall at a convenient location next to a 240 volt supply when I build the a new garage at our project home. Simply plug the box into the 240 V outlet, turn it on, ( Note: I don't leave the converters powered up when not needed. ) , plug a machine into the box, and use the on & off switch at the machine as you normally would.

Cheers. If you have time, could you link to the seller?

You’ll probably know that an annoyance with VFDs is that you’re supposed to wire the motor direct, which adds complication in routing the old switchgear through the VFD inputs. These units might be useful when running accessory motors, like a suds pump and power feed on a mill, for example.

 

[Kram]

Sorry I am late to the thread. The Drumond is not significantly smaller than my Warco WM240? I upgraded from the chinese spec 750w DC motor, which was useless, to a 1.5kw (2.2hp) 3 phase, and I have used every bit of that extra power when turning 6-10" diameters

I'd also suggest a low speed 1000rpm type as a vfd can always speed it up at no loss - where as its extremely difficult to slow down a motor to gain a 4x increase in torques.

 

[MattF]

Sorry I am late to the thread. The Drumond is not significantly smaller than my Warco WM240? I upgraded from the chinese spec 750w DC motor, which was useless, to a 1.5kw (2.2hp) 3 phase, and I have used every bit of that extra power when turning 6-10" diameters

I'd also suggest a low speed 1000rpm type as a vfd can always speed it up at no loss - where as its extremely difficult to slow down a motor to gain a 4x increase in torques.

I do have a 1.5kW single phase motor here, but it's too large for where it has to go. The 3 phase is a 4 pole motor, which are around 1400rpm or so.

 

[Kram]

Make space I had some photos of mine here

Thread 'New motor and vfd?'

Nov 3, 2019

Ive blown the warco lathe motor, and wanted a new one anyway with more low speed torque. It is instantly tripping the 30A circuit breaker, nothing else turned on. Im suprised the lathe control fuse and plug fuse is fine.

Please recommend a motor/vfd, if that is the best type?

Current motor 110mm dia x 250mm long rated 1kw, could probably go to 140mm before stuff gets in the way.

Thanks

• Kram
• Replies: 45
• forum: Lathes and other Machining Equipment

Although I never did finish the chip guard but its functional

 

[BrokenBiker]

The motor on my smart and brown is 3/4hp single phase as changed by previous owner from 1.5hp 3 phase...I can take 1mm power fed cuts on en16 all day long with a carbide tip, there is a slightly noticeable change to the sound while it's taking those heavier cuts but it runs it just fine. It could likely cut more, but I really don't have any need to hog that much material at once so I suspect a half HP motor will also work just fine for smaller lathes