o/t cnc phase conversion

[Gary]

I have a chance to buy a small cnc mill (5 h.p) for a hobby machine but am wondering if it is possible to phase convert them. I see ebay has the converters pretty cheap for cnc's. Just wondering if something listed cnc would work or do i need specifics. Any help,imput would be great. thank-you all in advance.

 

Gary

[mold100]

I believe a phase converter will work for you I would go with a rotary type if possible,I did some work a year or so ago for a guy out in the country where three phase would cost him 11,000

to have run so he was using a phase convetrer on a tree journeyman 325.

[Scott Bond]

Hi Gary

Phas-O-Matic

in Lancaster Ca.

He manufactures the phase converters that I see in our area.

[Gary]

thanks for the replies. I just checked out the phase-omatic site. It was about 10,500 hear 4 yrs ago to get the three phase ran out of town here. At that time a local shop told me that the converters would not work for cnc's only manual machines. I guess its a good way to keep competition down he figured.

[Ron Roderick]

HiGary,

I ran a Compumill Dynapath 20 5HP cnc mill with a rotary 7 1/2HP phase-converter for about 5 years. It should have been at least a 15HP to do the best job. Make certain that the control is not on the the manufactured leg of the circuit. Compumachine set it up for me. It was a Phase-o-Matic

 

Ron

 

[ 12-27-2002, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: Ron Roderick ]

[Zero]

I run a phase converter on one of my machines here. It's a 5 hp Phase-A-Matic from Palmdale Ca.

[mikee]

Phase-o- matic has a cnc setup

All legs are within 5 % with this setup.

Works great.

On a cnc you use 1.5 times the biggest motor HP(usually the spindle)output.

There are other places to get them but FAR more expensive!!!

 

Mikee

[Gary]

thanks for the help. I would of thought 5 h.p for 5h.p just as manual machine setups suggest. Good thing i asked.

[TimHollis]

About 10 years ago I had a small Ice Cream shop in Callicoon, NY. Got a fantastic buy on to new soft serve machines at auction. Machines come in, and when I go to hook them up, (****)- 3 phase, I only had 2, and the utility company wanted over 10g to bring the 3rd leg, 200 feet up the road.

The rest is from memory.

I bought a rotory phase generator from Grainger, after picking it up, and seeing BRUCE Electric, Lindenhurst Long Island, NY, 11757, MY HOME TOWN. I went over there, talked to the guys and he told me I needed a 7,1/2 HP model for starting the 5hp freon compressor in the machines. Remember I had 2 machines, 5 hp each. He said that Freon compressors were the worst for demand on start-up, and that as long as the help, didn't hit both start buttons at the same time, I would be fine with just 1 generator. So I bought the 7, 1/2 hp unit from him for $ 450. and returned the 5hp, $ 1200. unit back to Grainger. Still was running trouble free, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, 6 months a year, after 8 years, then my Ex got it in the divorce.

I am working in the Dominican Repuplic, but if you can't find them, just e-mail me, and I will make a call 1 of my friends back home. They are just about a mile from my house.

 

 

Thanks

The Expat

[Roger Peterson]

You shouldn't have any problems at all. As stated earlier run the control transformer off of the two non generated legs. You definately need a dynamic rotary phase converter, not a static, You will also need to contact the manufacturer of you cnc and find out what the allowable deviaton between legs is. It probably doesn't matter what the voltage is, within reason, just that the legs are within a tolerance from leg to leg. You will also need to check this on a regular basis, at least once a month, as the voltage coming in fluctuates. You will also need to know how to add or remove capacitors based on your findings. If you have any construction near you or if you are in an industrial park you will need to check this often. What I did was buy 3 panel mount voltmeters so I could check this with just a glance.

 

hope this helps,

[Gary]

no other business around me but the three separete volt meters does sound like a good idea.

thanks for the replys. btw just received the mc newsletter today and 9.1 has alot of useful improvements coming up.

 

Gary

[iowajim62]

Hi all,

Here at my work the big FH-8800 Mazaks have to be within 5 volts on each leg.

HTH