- Joined
- Jun 17, 2011
- Messages
- 2,062
I've hinted that I was working on a VFD project. Well, it's up and running. The main difference with this one is that I'm running both my mill and lathe off one VFD. Since I'm the only one using the shop, there's no problem with only powering up one machine at a time. If one is running and I flip the switch over to the other one, nothing changes. The drive has to be stopped to switch.
The relays for the interlock system cost more than either 3 phase motor. This interlock is based on something I designed for some mining trucks in southern Africa. They wanted to make the driver put on the parking brake to shift ranges on the rear end, so they wouldn't do it on the fly. These were 80 kph mining trucks.
Here's the VFD unit with the remote panel in the foreground. I can swing it over to whichever machine I'm running. It also telescopes to get it out of the way or position it at the best location.
The enclosure houses the VFD, interlock relays, 3-pole output relay and a 12VDC power supply to run the relays and a cooling fan above the VFD. The thick white thing on the bottom of the box is an air filter from a Ford Taurus. Lots of air flow.
Here's the control box positioned for the mill and the lathe. The space at the top left corner is for a MachTach Tachometer. I'm still waiting for Guy to answer my email so I can get one. Until then, I'll make do with the laser tach. Controls include FWD/OFF/REV, speed pot and an emergency stop button.
The Teco/Westinghouse FM-50 VFD is, I believe, a discontinued model that can still be found here and there. This one is rated to 2 HP and can run off single phase. The lower and upper frequencies can be set from 0 to 200 Hz.
The relays for the interlock system cost more than either 3 phase motor. This interlock is based on something I designed for some mining trucks in southern Africa. They wanted to make the driver put on the parking brake to shift ranges on the rear end, so they wouldn't do it on the fly. These were 80 kph mining trucks.
Here's the VFD unit with the remote panel in the foreground. I can swing it over to whichever machine I'm running. It also telescopes to get it out of the way or position it at the best location.
The enclosure houses the VFD, interlock relays, 3-pole output relay and a 12VDC power supply to run the relays and a cooling fan above the VFD. The thick white thing on the bottom of the box is an air filter from a Ford Taurus. Lots of air flow.
Here's the control box positioned for the mill and the lathe. The space at the top left corner is for a MachTach Tachometer. I'm still waiting for Guy to answer my email so I can get one. Until then, I'll make do with the laser tach. Controls include FWD/OFF/REV, speed pot and an emergency stop button.
The Teco/Westinghouse FM-50 VFD is, I believe, a discontinued model that can still be found here and there. This one is rated to 2 HP and can run off single phase. The lower and upper frequencies can be set from 0 to 200 Hz.