Up Grade Complete

[Harry Robinette]

Well the General has a 2hp 3ph 220v with inverter and is running good. I'm very happy with the upgrade it did the main thing I wanted it to, more power,less vibration and less noise.So here's what it took to complete the upgrade.
motor:$166.00
VFD : $251.00
cable for key pad:$37.50
Brake resistor:$21.13
3ph 2hp switch:$8.82
Wire,plug,wire clamps:$49.20
Belts:$40.00
switch box:$8.87
Total: $582.52
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[charlie knighton]

congratulations Harry, thanks for sharing

[Bernie Weishapl]

Looking good Harry. Glad to hear it is doing the job.

[Mike Cruz]

Sweet upgrade, and well done, Harry. Sure you don't want to take that whole lathe apart now, sandblast it down, repaint it, and put it all back together? :D

[bob svoboda]

Great project-bet you're glad it's finished!

[Harry Robinette]

Well I was actually thinking about doing just that and completely rebuilding the whole lathe,but then my mind came back and I just did the upgrade. I bought the lathe in Feb 1999, modified it to a 18" lathe in the fall of 2003, put the DC drive in 2004 and now this mod 2013 I think I'm done with mods to this lathe.
I like the knocking noise being gone and the power is unbelievable, it seams to have NO vibration at all I just hope it stay's this way. Oh Yeah I'm VERY glad it's done.

[Josh Bowman]

Harry. What caused the knocking?

[Harry Robinette]

Josh
The Reeves Drive on this lathe has one sheave on the left,one on the right and a two sided one in the middle. This drive works with one side belt V going down to the motor the other side V goes up to the spindle,one side get's bigger as the other side get's smaller. Now that middle two sided sheave had gotten loose and would knock when it moved. I adjusted the outside sheaves in just a little and everything went quiet. The link belt and the adjustment to the sheaves took all the fine vibration out. Having a 1 1/4hp MORE really made a large difference. Did I say how much I really love it.:D:D:D