- Joined
- May 29, 2014
- Messages
- 188
The saga continues--Mostly in a positive fashion.
I have been debating about starting another thread about installing and setting up the VFD & 3 Phase motor on the 12x36. I have decided, that the VFD install actually falls into the surface finish realm, and therefore am leaving it as one thread. I will attempt to rename the thread to include VFD install in it in case anyone else attempts this.
As a pilot, I would rather fly an instrument approach to minimums with a 20 knot crosswind & one engine out than mess with electric & electronics--I'm not afraid of it, I just don't enjoy it.
Anyway, I obtained the IODA board for the KB VFD and have it installed. I followed MKSJs programming and setup notes that he so generously provided, and was able to get the motor spinning nicely using the VFD controls. Then the fun started. My next challenge was to set up for remote operation. Remember, I am electrically challenged (severely). I hooked it all up as best I thought I knew how. I couldn't figure out why the motor wouldn't run. I read & reread the manual--which is very good--not written in Chinglish. I was just not clever enough to figure out which of the situations I was attempting to set up. I called KB tech support & got through to a tech almost instantly. He first asked what I was using the drive for. I told him a metal lathe and his response was "That is too much drive for a lathe--kind of like putting a jet engine on a Toyota Corolla". After we had a good chuckle, he walked me through the setup, & wished me luck.
So, back to the bench. Let me interject here a bit--I have the motor & drive on a workbench. I have been using jumpers to simulate the switches. That leaves the lathe contactors completely out of the equation, for now. OK, moving on. I reprogrammed the parameters per the techs instructions, & NOTHING!!
Started over, did all the programming again, & checked the jumpers--still NOTHING!!
Another call to tech support, & I actually spoke to the same tech again. He asked a lot of additional questions this time, & I was able to provide the answers that he desired, & he pointed me in a whole new direction--This time including the external potentiometer. The manual has a very clear diagram that even I could follow. He apologized for not sending me to that section initially. I went through the programming again, hooked up the jumpers, & now I have the motor running both forward & reverse, and with variable speed in each direction. One more hurdle cleared. I even took notes of how it is wired for when I get it installed on the lathe.
Now, I want to check the FWD/REV switch on the actual lathe. MKSJ told me that the contactors might be too corroded to function with the low voltage supplied by the VFD. I got lucky--Both directions work great.
My next big hurdle is all the safety switches. Tracking down the foot brake was easy. The case door, also easy. The EStop, not so easy. There are lots of wires in that panel. So, after a bit of detective work, I finally have all the switches figured out. They are all normally closed. So, I am guessing that if I connect them all in series and in series with the common wire to the FWD/REV switch on the apron, that all should be happy. I am just a bit hesitant to do it right now. Kind of basking in a small success--afterglow.
So, that's it for now from Delaware.
Jerry
I have been debating about starting another thread about installing and setting up the VFD & 3 Phase motor on the 12x36. I have decided, that the VFD install actually falls into the surface finish realm, and therefore am leaving it as one thread. I will attempt to rename the thread to include VFD install in it in case anyone else attempts this.
As a pilot, I would rather fly an instrument approach to minimums with a 20 knot crosswind & one engine out than mess with electric & electronics--I'm not afraid of it, I just don't enjoy it.
Anyway, I obtained the IODA board for the KB VFD and have it installed. I followed MKSJs programming and setup notes that he so generously provided, and was able to get the motor spinning nicely using the VFD controls. Then the fun started. My next challenge was to set up for remote operation. Remember, I am electrically challenged (severely). I hooked it all up as best I thought I knew how. I couldn't figure out why the motor wouldn't run. I read & reread the manual--which is very good--not written in Chinglish. I was just not clever enough to figure out which of the situations I was attempting to set up. I called KB tech support & got through to a tech almost instantly. He first asked what I was using the drive for. I told him a metal lathe and his response was "That is too much drive for a lathe--kind of like putting a jet engine on a Toyota Corolla". After we had a good chuckle, he walked me through the setup, & wished me luck.
So, back to the bench. Let me interject here a bit--I have the motor & drive on a workbench. I have been using jumpers to simulate the switches. That leaves the lathe contactors completely out of the equation, for now. OK, moving on. I reprogrammed the parameters per the techs instructions, & NOTHING!!
Started over, did all the programming again, & checked the jumpers--still NOTHING!!
Another call to tech support, & I actually spoke to the same tech again. He asked a lot of additional questions this time, & I was able to provide the answers that he desired, & he pointed me in a whole new direction--This time including the external potentiometer. The manual has a very clear diagram that even I could follow. He apologized for not sending me to that section initially. I went through the programming again, hooked up the jumpers, & now I have the motor running both forward & reverse, and with variable speed in each direction. One more hurdle cleared. I even took notes of how it is wired for when I get it installed on the lathe.
Now, I want to check the FWD/REV switch on the actual lathe. MKSJ told me that the contactors might be too corroded to function with the low voltage supplied by the VFD. I got lucky--Both directions work great.
My next big hurdle is all the safety switches. Tracking down the foot brake was easy. The case door, also easy. The EStop, not so easy. There are lots of wires in that panel. So, after a bit of detective work, I finally have all the switches figured out. They are all normally closed. So, I am guessing that if I connect them all in series and in series with the common wire to the FWD/REV switch on the apron, that all should be happy. I am just a bit hesitant to do it right now. Kind of basking in a small success--afterglow.
So, that's it for now from Delaware.
Jerry