New Lathe.......New Questions

Phase converter ?

John D

>I am not familiar with your lathe but phase converters don't convert voltage levels. My pm3520 has a phase converter which converts single phase to three phase but it requires 220 volts input. I would be careful using 110 until you understand the input voltage required.

Re: Phase converter ?

Tom in Red Deer

>Hi John,

I was using the wrong terms. It is actually a frequency converter. The motor on the lathe is a 220v, 3 phase and the input power (factory wired) 110. It all runs through this converter.

It all runs very smooth and quiet. I just don't know what the little knob is for. I will check with the rep tomorrow.

Tom in Red Deer

Re: New Lathe.......New Questions

Jim D.

>I would guess what you have is a voltage converter, not phase converter. As you state, it steps up 110 to 220. Again, another guess, where you live the voltage standard is 220? If so the motor is probably rated at 110VAC and the "box" is just a step down tranformer. The dial is for fine tuning the voltage to 110 volts. There might be a volt meter on the transformer to allow you to see what the output is, if not use a volt meter to check it.

If you can not do this then keep the dial set in the middle. The output should run between 105VAC to 115VAC at this point, and considering most motors are made to be pretty forgiving on there voltages you should not have a problem with that setting.

Jim D.

Re: New Lathe.......New Questions

Jim D.

>Your new post came up while I was writing my post. Guess we camn forget my previous post.

THe nob is for adjusting the variable frequency to 60 cycles. Without a meter I do not know what use it would be to you.

Jim D.

There could be more to it

Fred in NC

>VFDs use DC internally. That is the only way the juice can be converted to a different frequency. In other words, AC is converted to DC and then output as AC at the proper frequency to drive the motor at the desired speed.

The input voltage can be anything, 110 or 220, etc. Most likely there is a step-up transformer inside the box. Many components in a VFD drive, that is what makes them expensive (and heavy!).

Look at the plate on the motor to see what kind of motor it is.

The little black knob: First get the lathe running at its slowest speed. Then move the little black knob. See what happens.

Congrats on your new lathe!

Jim and Fred

Tom In Red Deer

>Well, I did a little experiment. The inverter box has a digital readout on it. I turned on the lathe at 25 rpm and the box readout was 39.4. I raised the rpm to 1000 and the readout went to 138.4.

When turning the wee knob in question there was no sound or speed difference on either low or higher speed.

I am thinking that the knob is to adjust everything if the main power supply is less than stable or from a generator.

I have just been handed my to do list for today so playing time is now over anyway. I will get my answer from the rep tomorrow.

Thanks for your input.

Tom in Red Deer