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- Mar 12, 2014
- Messages
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The VFD will actually do a minor amount of braking as coming to a stop by setting the program to do such without a braking resistor. I set mine to decel brake and kept creeping up on the time until it over ramped the current and tripped, then backed it off a bit and it works great. I could install a braking resistor and had thought about it at first but in all honesty it does fine without the braking resistor. Once I turn the rotary switch off, back to the neutral position, the spindle only turns a few revolutions before coming to a stop. It's not like it coasts for four or five seconds.
If you want it to stop faster then by all means you will need to install a braking resistor but there is some controlled deceleration in the VFD alone.
Maybe I look at things differently but the harsher the stops/starts the more wear there will be on the gears overall. I watch these videos and see people stomping on their brakes just to stop the machine during a normal process and have to wonder how much long term wear they are creating. Chances are maybe not enough to measure but then what if there is. I can see using the lathe brake in an emergency situation, doubtful you would be able to react fast enough, but let's say you do, I can see that. I just don't know why for normal machining operations it is needed, same with a braking resistor, probably overkill.
Again, just my opinion, not wanting to start a heated debate over if you need a braking resistor or not. Just my two cents.
If you want it to stop faster then by all means you will need to install a braking resistor but there is some controlled deceleration in the VFD alone.
Maybe I look at things differently but the harsher the stops/starts the more wear there will be on the gears overall. I watch these videos and see people stomping on their brakes just to stop the machine during a normal process and have to wonder how much long term wear they are creating. Chances are maybe not enough to measure but then what if there is. I can see using the lathe brake in an emergency situation, doubtful you would be able to react fast enough, but let's say you do, I can see that. I just don't know why for normal machining operations it is needed, same with a braking resistor, probably overkill.
Again, just my opinion, not wanting to start a heated debate over if you need a braking resistor or not. Just my two cents.