Power for the machine

[RollingBender]

My old CNC vertical machining center was built for 3-phase power but ran just fine on 240 volt single phase.

I just found out last week that my new(er) machine cannot be wired up to single phase like the old one even though they came from the same manufacturer.

…so…now I need to figure out how to make my own 3-phase power.

 

[boxocrap]

My old CNC vertical machining center was built for 3-phase power but ran just fine on 240 volt single phase.
View attachment 943548

I just found out last week that my new(er) machine cannot be wired up to single phase like the old one even though they came from the same manufacturer.
View attachment 943549

…so…now I need to figure out how to make my own 3-phase power.

do they have a return policy?..looks like more than a few pennies for that one

 

[Telekarster]

Geesh! That's some serious equipment you got there man, in a hood no less! Wow! You must have great neighbors! LOL!!!

 

[guitar_paul1]

Depends entirely on the motor drives.
Get the manufacturer tell you what converter to use.
Lots of $$ at stake. Rotary converter should work on anything. Switched capacitors may burn something, depending. There might be a modern solid state converter I don't know about. Been away from it for a number years.

 

[RollingBender]

I’m going with a digitally controlled rotary phase converter. My wife, usually the ultimate cheapskate, stopped me from scouring the used market and told me to just buy new. Wish she would see things that way with music equipment.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

Rotary is typically what folks use for larger needs here but VFDs are increasingly popular for single machine applications where they are compatible. You'll be happy with that rotary unit!

 

[RollingBender]

Now I just need to figure out a way to move it into the shop (450lbs, narrow passageways)

 

[Jupiter]

we

Now I just need to figure out a way to move it into the shop (450lbs, narrow passageways)
View attachment 945170

well, it has loops for a shoulder strap...

 

[RollingBender]

Lever and fulcrum is our friend.

 

[old wrench]

Lever and fulcrum is our friend.

Exactly

I've moved some huge pieces of equipment with nothing more than some pieces of pipe (all of the same diameter) for rollers and a sturdy lever.

A come-along comes in very handy as well.

edit: you can even sort of steer your load by positioning your rollers perpendicular to the path you want to travel - larger diameter rollers = easier rolling, but on flat concrete even small diameter pipe like 3/4" or even 1/2" will work OK.

The ancients employed rollers to some pretty impressive results



You must have a really good-sized motor powering your mill!

That is one very large rotary converter - what is the H.P. rating on that thing?

.

 

[RollingBender]

The rotary motor is 40hp. My machine spindle motor has a max HP of 29 but I’ll never see that. The old machine had a 15hp 3-phase that was actually running on single phase so realistically running at 10-ish HP and I never saw the power meter go above 30%.

I made a set of skates out of plate steel, precision ground rod and a pile of roller bearings. Each skate has a platform 4” x 6”, has 2 axles, and 8 roller bearings as the wheels. By myself, I was able to spin this 10,000lb machine 180 degrees and push it into position. Actually, with the slight slope of the garage floor, it will start rolling down hill on its own when you let it down off the jack.