chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 We have found these boxes on the table saw, radial arm saw, planer, and the shaper. They are called VFD made by TECO. One of the cousins, John, is working to be a electrician. He knows all about these things. We a are going to kill the power and he is going to pull all the breakers and disconnect all the wires. Bill is going to be here while he does that. Wish us luck we got the loft emptied of cherry and curly maple which is pushing the capacity of my trailer. I thick my covered porch is going to be filled to the ceiling with wood. Each of the stalls are filled with walnut, oaks, and I think cedar. I am also getting a pile of wide yellow to orange 6/4 pine flooring that is all 16" in width. I am going to go get coffee, teas, and sodas for everyone. I may also grab some candy bars and snack cakes. Happy workers!. Wife has agreed that we are going to pay everyone $100 each for the days work. She and the girl too. I don't know what they have planned for the money but the each laughed when I asked. They were good at taking pictures and writing down everything as it got loaded. We found two more guns a .45 1911 in a ammo box and a colt python in the drawer under the phone. Both loaded but haven't found any more ammo. They should be back soon so I have to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 I just looked up those devices. It could be you will have variable speed available . Sounds like an awesome haul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Doe those TECO drives give you a single to 3 phase converison? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 I looked them up and it seems they do. Also seems to add the ability to vary the motor speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 I am tired so this may not make sense. In the brief demo that John gave me. You leave the VFD plugged in all the time and it sits there at 5Hz or .5Hz. Not enough power to even start the motor. But when you want to use the tool you turn it up to 15-25 Hz and then turn on the tool then after it spins up you turn it up to 60 Hz or full power. When you are done you either hit the brake function or the spin down which will slowly stop the tool instead of instantly stopping it. You can also vary the speed or reverse the motor. Why? I haven't a clue. On the radial arm saw that he showed me how they work he could vary the speed from about 400 rpm to about 3500 rpm. They seem to work better than inverters according to John but he then got into electrician lingo and lost me. I have a told of 5 of these boxes and they are all in the pony boxes on the tools except for the shaper. According to Josh the shaper is a fixed router on steroids. Connected to the boxes are twist lock 12 gauge 240 cords that went to special outlets. He said that all of these VFD's were the 208-240v type. But he said that the 110-115v type was what he was used to working with at the community college. I can't sleep but I can't concentrate enough to read manuals. He said that 60Hz was normal max but with the VFD you could go up to a higher frequency to increase the motor speed and/or torque. I think he said that you could take a 3hp motor to 5hp or a 1800 rpm motor to 3000 rrpm but it was hard on the motor. He also showed me how that I could vary the speed two ways. One with the arrow keys to adjust the freq of power going to the motor or with the knob that varys the voltage(I think). I am going to pay him extra for when I get things settled for him to wire my box with the extra 60 amp circuits into my box in the shop. We were because of the open ceiling to pull the wires with the plug to the breaker and remove the breaker from the box. This way we have the breaker to the plug intact for install at my house. His brother a full electrician is going to come by and check his work and sign off on it for the inspector. I don't know if I have to have inspection or a permit again but I am going to play it safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 What size was the shaper? Were there any cutters to go with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 A variable frequency drive allows you to vary the speed if the motor, not the horsepower. Those TECO units from Westinghouse are designed for industrial applications, so all the typical features are included (dynamic braking, reverse operation, etc...) even though you wouldn't generally use all of them in a woodworking application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 On break from the unpacking putting away. My wife the Mistress of Organization has taken over and has been putting me under the whip... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 The shaper is 3/4-Inch with 7HP. According to notes we have 17 boxes of cutters. It also has a big arm with three wheels that attaches at the back that has a motor for pushing the wood through. Why? How do you hold the work pieces with this in the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 You don't. Highly recommend training before use. The power feeder with a shaper are great tools to pair, but they are super dangerous in the wrong hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 This is not the best of videos necessarily, but at least it is a guy using a power feeder on a spindle shaper to mill narrow stock. Wider stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 That is a power feeder . It lets you control the speed that the wood is fed into the cutter. It also lets you keep your hands far away from the spinning tool. Particle Board has plenty of experience with large shapers and power feeders, maybe he can help when you get around to setting it up and using it. You probably have cutters to make raised panel doors and maybe crown moldings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 I am feeling that this should have gone to auction. More tool than I can take on right now. Seems too industrial for hobby shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Yes there are cutters for crown, base, t&g, wain, chair, 3 raised panel, and others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 A big shaper with a power feeder and lots of cutters would bring a nice chunk towards the drum sander that you want. You could try to sell it on Craigslist and include the VFD if the buyer doesn't have 3 phase . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Doe those TECO drives give you a single to 3 phase converison? Yes to vary the speed of a motor it needs to be a 3 phase motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 A variable frequency drive allows you to vary the speed if the motor, not the horsepower. Those TECO units from Westinghouse are designed for industrial applications, so all the typical features are included (dynamic braking, reverse operation, etc...) even though you wouldn't generally use all of them in a woodworking application. And they can reduce the horse power as well. It will not increase the torque the motor can put out just change the speed. Running at 60 Hz is the best for horsepower, as that is how the motor was designed to most efficiently run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 And they can reduce the horse power as well. It will not increase the torque the motor can put out just change the speed. Running at 60 Hz is the best for horsepower, as that is how the motor was designed to most efficiently run. Sorry, I should have clarified: a VFD won't INCREASE the horsepower, although it can drive the motor above its design speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customwood montrose Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I find that a decent sized shaper can do things that are only limited by your imagination. If you have the space, keep it! I end up cutting long miters on a shaper using a powerfeeder that give results a tablesaw could can only dream of. One thing you might want to look at if you keep it is the Amana Profile Pro cutter head sets. This is an aluminum cutterhead with a huge amount of little tiny insert knives that don't cost a lot, maybe $20 per set of knives. Very easy to come up with a ton of different of profiles for not a lot of money. I use these to match all types of weird stuff people bring in. Hope this helps. Dustin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I will have to see how things go this weekend if we can find a space for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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