Kathy Marshall
01-26-2012, 12:47 AM
After seeing Mike Heaney's post about upgrading his old Delta, I started thinking that would be a nice upgrade for my Delta 46-612.
I replaced the belts a month or two ago, and while it is working better it doesn't have the torque it had when I started turning and I can bog it down pretty easily. I think the problem is that the Reeves drive pulleys are a little out of sync and one belt is always looser than the other allowing some slippage. Anyway, I'd like to go digital and do away with the Reeves drive and maybe upgrade to 2hp.
I sent an email to Automation Direct looking for some recommendations on a motor and VFD and according to their response, using just the motor and a VFD I would lose alot of torque, especially at lower speeds. So what am I missing? Obviously several turners have made the upgrade and are happy with the results, and why would this be different than any of the newer lathes with electronic variable speeds? Do you use step pulleys to make 3 or 4 different speed ranges?
Here is their response:
Here is the technical support response to your inquiry:
----------------------------
Good afternoon,
Are you planning on doing away with the Reeves drive? You are aware you
will lose a great deal of power if you try to replace the Reeves drive with
a motor and VFD combination.
The Reeves drive gives you torque multiplication as it changes speed, and
keeps your power roughly the same.
The VFD only changes speed and your power would drop off rapidly as you
lower the speed ( your lathe couldn't make very heavy cuts at all, and
could quite easily stall).
Please think this over, and let me know if you want to continue with this.
Most lathe owners are unwilling to give up the performance of the machine
caused by using just a VFD.
-----------------------------
Also, can someone explain the difference between 1phase and 3phase? I have 110 into the shop (trailer), I could bring in 220 but that an expense I'd rather delay until I get a real shop built. Is there something I would need to do to convert my 110 single phase to 110 3 phase?
This is something I'd really like to do if I can be sure it would be an improvement. If I could end up with a more powerfull lathe, then I'd be happy with just the 12" swing until after I get a shop built (or win the lottery) and I could think about a new, bigger lathe.
Thanks!
I replaced the belts a month or two ago, and while it is working better it doesn't have the torque it had when I started turning and I can bog it down pretty easily. I think the problem is that the Reeves drive pulleys are a little out of sync and one belt is always looser than the other allowing some slippage. Anyway, I'd like to go digital and do away with the Reeves drive and maybe upgrade to 2hp.
I sent an email to Automation Direct looking for some recommendations on a motor and VFD and according to their response, using just the motor and a VFD I would lose alot of torque, especially at lower speeds. So what am I missing? Obviously several turners have made the upgrade and are happy with the results, and why would this be different than any of the newer lathes with electronic variable speeds? Do you use step pulleys to make 3 or 4 different speed ranges?
Here is their response:
Here is the technical support response to your inquiry:
----------------------------
Good afternoon,
Are you planning on doing away with the Reeves drive? You are aware you
will lose a great deal of power if you try to replace the Reeves drive with
a motor and VFD combination.
The Reeves drive gives you torque multiplication as it changes speed, and
keeps your power roughly the same.
The VFD only changes speed and your power would drop off rapidly as you
lower the speed ( your lathe couldn't make very heavy cuts at all, and
could quite easily stall).
Please think this over, and let me know if you want to continue with this.
Most lathe owners are unwilling to give up the performance of the machine
caused by using just a VFD.
-----------------------------
Also, can someone explain the difference between 1phase and 3phase? I have 110 into the shop (trailer), I could bring in 220 but that an expense I'd rather delay until I get a real shop built. Is there something I would need to do to convert my 110 single phase to 110 3 phase?
This is something I'd really like to do if I can be sure it would be an improvement. If I could end up with a more powerfull lathe, then I'd be happy with just the 12" swing until after I get a shop built (or win the lottery) and I could think about a new, bigger lathe.
Thanks!