VFD For Craftsman 109

aoresteen

aoresteen

H-M Supporter - Gold Member
H-M Supporter Gold Member
Joined
May 21, 2022
Messages
46
I recently bought a Craftsman 109.0703 but the catch was that the motor is on loan until I get my own motor. I looked at VFDs but decided that they were too complex and expensive. My budget for a motor is $250. Watching a You Tube video I learned that there are $100 VFDs out there. Intrigued, I did some more research. First, the motor specs for the Craftsman 109 are:

HP: 1/4 or 1/3 HP
RPM: 1725 to 1750

VFDs use 3 phase motors. A motor that is within my budget is the Iron Horse MTR2-P33-3BD18. It is a 220 3 phase motor that is 1/3HP and 1800 RPM. close enough to the 1750 Craftsman says is needed. It sells in the range of $182 plus shipping. They are on back-order right now and it takes a 5/8" core pulley. The specs say that the motor pulls at full load (FL) 1.4 amps.


Just bought a 5/8" pulley for $14 off of eBay:

www.ebay.com

2" X 5/8" Single Groove Fixed Bore Cast Iron "A" Pulley AK20 X 5/8 200a6 | eBay

AK20-5/8 with 3/16 Keyway, Equal to Die Cast 200A6 but in Cast Iron. 1/2 BORE NO KEYWAY. 5/8 TO 7/8 BORE 3/16 X 3/32. 15/16 TO 1-1/4 BORE 1/4 X 1/8. 1-5/16 TO 1-3/8 BORE 5/16 X 5/32. Cast Iron Sheaves Should Not Exceed 6500 FPM Rim Speed.
www.ebay.com


The VFD I am considering is the Wisoqu VFD Variable Frequency Drive. It takes 1 phase 110V AC in and puts out 3 phase 220V AC. Cost is $116 on Amazon. It says that it will handle 1,500 watts whic is either about 4 amps at 220v or 2.3 amps at 120v. Either way, both are under the 1.4 FL amps the motor draws.

https://www.amazon.com/Wisoqu-Frequency-Single‑Phase-Controller-AT5‑1500X/dp/B09H7J4M96/ref=sr_1_10?crid=14JH7QJNHE43N&keywords=120v+Input+VFD&qid=1653939999&sprefix=120v+input+vfd,aps,137&sr=8-10


So for less than $340 I can get a new 1/3 HP motor AND a VFD? What am I missing?


Thanks!
 
Personally if you want variable speed I'd just look at a small universal motor somewhere from 1/6 to 1/4hp and put a speed controller on it. Maybe a small sewing machine motor would work. Easier, and cheaper, I know they sold them with 1/4-1/3hp motors, but they are very lightweight lathes, and I doubt anything bigger than 1/4hp even buys you anything other than weight and headaches.

I have one of the later 6x12" models and think they are neat little lathes but really not worth putting a lot of time and money into. Keep it simple and have fun with it.
 
A sewing machine motor would be a better fit I think, knowing how fragile the spindle is on that model
You can outgrow a machine like that very quickly when you begin to run into it's limitations so I don't recommend investing too much
 
Last edited:
Thanks! I will take a look at sewing machine motors.

I have a new spindle that is made of 4041 chrome-molly steel that is significantly stronger than the originals made 80 years ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top