- Joined
- Dec 18, 2013
- Messages
- 2,012
I bought a 10hp Phase craft rotary converter panel with magnetic switch, cost about 200, then I bought a used 10hp 3 phase motor, put new bearings in it. So for 400 bucks I am set except for some overhead wiring from rotary converter to lathe. I was told by numerous folks that I did not want to try powering the lathe with a VFD in front of a VFD drive. They will talk to each other and have issues. The folks that made the G7 inverter told me I could try and run it on single phase but they doubted it was oversized enough to pull off, said I likely would not have full power even if it worked. One guy I talked to who has owned the lathe since they first came out runs his on a 8hp rotary phase converter with no issues, although he says he does not take huge cuts in his use of machine. Why Grizzly pitches a 30 hp rfc for this machine is a mystery. 10 ought to do fine, i will find out in a few weeks.
Regarding the plastic gear on lathe, ya its odd, but Ford and others use plastic gears in the trannies of 3/4 ton pickups so maybe not such a bad thing. Seeing as its only the one gear I suspect its for good reason and not just economy. My guess is it makes engaging the feed gears easier and as mentioned quieter. If it becomes a wear item, I bet Boston gear makes something that would work or shudder we could fire up the dividing head and build our own.
michael
Well they are just driving the feed screw with that plastic gear not the spindle so that made me feel a bit better. Yes Grizzly is smoking crack on their recommended RPC.