Lathe question again...

Dave H (MI) · Mar 5, 2019

Some of these machines I see for sale are three phase. I'm thinking this is not what comes into the house/shop here. Thinking single phase. Are phase converters a reasonable solution? Hope this is not s stupid question. Not a topic I know a lot about.

Bob · Mar 5, 2019

Check out the Forum linked below, all you could ever want to know about phase convertors and VFD's for machine tools.
Practical

Bob Bancroft · Mar 5, 2019

I just came from a friends place, where he has a large machine shop out in the country. He has a "homemade" phase generator. All his machines are three phase.

Dopp Creek · Mar 5, 2019

I have a milling machine with a 220V 2hp 3 phase motor in my shop and I installed a phase converter to power it. The converter is about the size of a Bible. It was a simple installation; followed the wiring diagram on the cover of the device.

danofarming · Mar 5, 2019

Local guys here build them, using capacitors. http://slattenelectric.com/

Oliver 500 Wa · Mar 5, 2019

The best solution is to install a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive). They are available in single to 3 phase versions. No power loss like you get with a static phase converter and other than a small fan no noise and parasitic power use like you get with a rotary phase converter.

As an added bonus you can set them up with a simple potentiometer (like a volume knob) for speed control. I use my lathe at least once a week and probably only changed gears 2 or 3 times in the past year. Just leave in in a middle range and dial it up or down.

Mike M · Mar 5, 2019

For a lathe the VFD which should be more reasonable in price from what they used to be are a good way to go if you get a 3 phase machine. It will give you variable speeds !
I did not like it as well for my milling machine so I stuck with a phase converter that looks like a little box.

ffreeb · Mar 5, 2019

I have two of them. The one in the barn powers a lathe and a Bridgeport. I built that one. It?s a three phase motor and a single phase motor. You get the three phase motor spinning with the single phase motor before you turn the power on to the three phase motor. The three phase motor will run on single phase, it just won?t start on it. One running the two hot lines of the single phase just pass through to the three phase line and the motor generates power in the third leg. I have another one in my basement that powers a Hardinge tool room lathe. It is a ?store bought ? one that just has a toggle switch on top to turn it on. Both work well.

dr sportster · Mar 5, 2019

You could always switch out motors . Large HP single phase motors tend to be expensive .But if you something laying around maybe.

Andy Wickiser · Mar 5, 2019

The lathe I have came with a three phase motor and on/reverser switch. One advantage of three phase is that it reverses nicely which can be handy when you are threading and want to reverse the tool without messing up the tool positioning up. I built a rotary phase converter which uses a second three phase motor as an idler to generate the third leg from given that the incoming single phase only has two legs. Works great. Plenty of other ways to go, as mentioned in other responses. I guess you have to decide which makes the most sense to you.

JMS/.MN · Mar 5, 2019

Google Home Made Phase Converters. Shows diagrams to make your own...no capacitors- just a little single phase motor driving a 3 phase motor to start it. That"s how I made mine. If the lathe has an external motor, just switch it to a single phase motor- 2 HP is likely plenty big. My 13 inch South Bend runs either a half or a 1 hp...don"t know which is on it, but it"s only a 110v motor.

JOCCO · Mar 5, 2019

Dave talk to an electrician about this in your area/state. This can be as complicated as the tax code!! For smaller machines a 220 volt (like welder, air compressor) can be much simpler. Also to install 3 phase power around me is not cheap.

JF in MI · Mar 5, 2019

I have a capacitor starter on my 3 phase mill. Cheap (under $50) and it works great forward or reverse. The only thing is it produces 1/3rd less HP. Since it was a 2HP to start with it still has more power than a 2J. My lathe had a single phase motor put on it before I bought it but once again it is a 2 HP 1ph replacing a 1 HP 3ph.

JF in MI · Mar 5, 2019

Forgot to mention; you need to match the capacitor unit to the HP range.

Dave H (MI) · Mar 5, 2019

Wow! Plenty of good options there! I like the idea of switching the motor to be honest. I have a few pretty nice motors that I have picked up for almost nothing because they were attached to some piece of auction junk (chicken plucker comes to mind). I could maybe use one of those. If not there are other ideas here that will do just fine. May take a while to scare up a lathe I am interested in though. Same old "stuff", people won't call you back or they want a lot more than I am willing to pay. I REALLY like the ones that say "if it is still listed it is still available". But email only and they never get back to you. Glad I am in no hurry.

Tom Massachusetts · Mar 5, 2019

A few years ago I bought a nice 14" 3 phase lathe. Hooked it up with a phase convertor. Never could get a nice finish cut with it. Had the power company out, all is well. Finally got a electrician that was into 3 phase at the local mills. He said that the power at the lathe was not right. He recommended a rotary convertor. Now runs smooth as silk.

37chief · Mar 5, 2019

I have three phase converters. One on my mill, lathe, and wood splitter. The wood splitter gets more use than the others, and seams to do a good job. If opened up there isn't much inside, but they work. Stan

ditchwitch · Mar 5, 2019

I believe the converter is the solution . Ex father in Law has a 2HP Bridgeport with a converter

JOCCO · Mar 5, 2019

Dave don't know your budget but some times you can get the newer ones ENCO comes to mind. They are like that grizzle, jet and other stuff. Seems like lots of bang for your buck.

Steve@Advance · Mar 5, 2019

Dave, I agree, get the lathe first. Base your decision on getting the lather that best fits your needs and is the best deal.

A good lathe will be 3 phase unless someone has changed out the motor.

Once you have the lathe, then a better decision can be made as to how to power it.

One of the disadvantages of a single phase motor, they don't reverse on the fly. It has to stop first, then restart in reverse. They also don't like repeated starts, hard on the start windings and contacts. Having the ability to quick reverse and jog comes in handy when tapping.

Some of the older lathes used a mechanical reverse. The motor was started, always ran, always ran the same direction. For one of those, a single phase would be ideal.

I would see what lathe you come up with first. Now you know it can be powered regardless of weather it is single or 3 phase.

C.Amick · Mar 5, 2019

How many horsepower is it? If it is 5 or less, I might consider switching out the motor.

Lathe question again...

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