man of wood Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I want to add speed control to my lathe, right now I have to change the belt on step pulleys. My lathe was make in 1951, and is in great condition. There must be a system out there I can add to my lathe and have Electronic speed control........ By the way I don't have the money to buy a new lathe. I think I can swing the up-date. Thank you all Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimV Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 What lathe do you have? What is the motor, single phase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
man of wood Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Delta/Milwaukee 1951 with a 3/4 H.P. single phase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Not without changing the horsepower of it (lowering it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Electronic variable speed lathes run on a 3 phase motor with an inverter that controls the motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 A quick shopping search shows it would cost around $550 USD to purchase a small VFD and a 1 hp, inverter duty, 3 phase motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
man of wood Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 So I would need a 3 phase mother??????? Can a 3 phase motor run on 110v???? If I get the motor, were do I find the inverter???? Thanks Guys, Please keep this coming, I would really like to do this.. Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 You need a three phase motor and a VFD but they run on single phase 220. Grizzly should have everything needed provided you don't have some odd motor frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Switched my '58 Craftsman to variable speed with a 1hp DC motor, cost me $20. - sent via Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 @McQ: What did you do, cannibalize an old treadmill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 To install 3 phase, you would need to change your wiring from the line. Generally speaking, horsepower is directly correlated with voltage. So a 3hp @ 220v would be 1.5hp @ 110v with everything else remaining constant (should be relatively). So for a single phase 220v, running at 110v -> From there, it would be easier to make a 3 way switch (High, medium, and low) using different resistors and a master on off switch. Wouldn't be difficult to make. That or a REALLY beefy potentiometer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 @McQ: What did you do, cannibalize an old treadmill? Yep. Paid $20 for the first treadmill which I used for my lathe. Got a 2nd treadmill free but haven't used that motor for anything yet. I wrote an overview on my personal blog. http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-to-get-variable-speed-on-cheap.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cblelong Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Give Craft Supply USA a call. They carry an aftermarket speed control system and motor. They sell either piece or the combo and they will tune it before shipment. I purchased the control a few years ago to replace the system on my Delta DL40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Thomas, don't let the technical talk confuse you. If you purchase a 220 volt, 3 phase motor, and a varaible frequency drive (VFD) as the speed control, you will not need a 3 phase line, just a standard 220 volt, single phase line. The VFD can take the single phase input, rectify it to DC internally, then produce a 3 phase AC output for the motor. Be aware that you may need more amps from the 220 line than if you were running a single phase 220 motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 So I would need a 3 phase mother??????? Can a 3 phase motor run on 110v???? If I get the motor, were do I find the inverter???? Thanks Guys, Please keep this coming, I would really like to do this.. Thomas The motor is run by the Variable frequency drive, which for a 1 hp motor can be run on 110 or 220 single phase. That depends on what the VFD you purchase wants. Keep in mind that you will not get more torque out of the motor like you will if you run a reducing belt, so stepping up the power of the motor to give you better low end torque could be a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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