So with a VFD I cant use the forward and reverse switch?
Maybe it is covered in the other links presented but I will try to provide a quick answer here.
Again, in my opinion ...
You can reverse the direction of a 3ph motor by simply switching the two wires that go to any one of the three windings. That is what the drum switch does.
Lets think about connecting a VFD but skip the drum switch, just wire it directly to the 3ph motor as directed. Turn the VFD on and the motor turns in A direction. If it is 'backwards' just physically switch the wires going from the VFD to the motor. Now everything is going in the right direction.
Now the beauty of the VFD ... from now on, to get reverse just tell the computer inside the VFD to 'electronically' switch the wires [actually it switches the relationship of the phases but the end result is the same] by pushing a button on the front panel of the VFD.
You will not lose the ability to run the motor in reverse, you would just not use the drum switch to control the direction. You would use the buttons on the front of the VFD. Note that the VFD doesn't care much about which direction they are going so most of the features available in 'forward' are also available in 'reverse' ... variable speed, etc.
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