I am needing to convert a Pullmax P21S from three phase to single phase. Any suggestions on the best and/or cheapest way to accomplish this? It has a 5 H.P. motor, volts is 230/460, amps 13.8/6.9, r.p.m. 1800, max amb c 40. Any help would really be appreciated. A picture is attached for your reference.
Do a search on phase converters...........Their are allot of different options and price ranges.........Littleman
Dave's right, look up the different types of converters. I use a rotary phase converter. It is a little more expensive, but I don't ever have any problems.
I agree that a VFD is the way to go. Get one that will operate off of 220 volts single phase. When I rebuilt my Nibbler Medium I bought a complete set up from SEW Euro drive. It has been an excellent unit but not cheap. You will like the variable speed for the stroke.
Bought my stuff from these two places fordcragar recommended them to me. http://www.factorymation.com/ http://www.ssccontrols.com/homepage-...ercontrols.htm
One of the cheapest ways I know is to use a 230v single phase motor and pull your 3rd leg off of it. That way you can keep the 3 phase motor. I know a guy that runs a small machine shop like that.
I have a rotary phase converater that runs my lathe . As long as i stay within the h.p. limits of the phase converater the number of motors it can power is unlimted.
Biggest single phase input VFD I'm finding from my usual sources is a 3hp, so that will mean a new motor too. Unless you're planning on shearing heavy plate with that Pullmax, you shouldn't need anywhere close to 5 hp....2hp ought to do the job just fine. Another place to shop and comparre is http://www.automationdirect.com . I've had good luck with them, but it looks like factorymation actually has better prices on some things. Tim D.
Bought my Hitachi VFD`s at http://www.driveswarehouse.com/ got 'em on a South bend lathe, Bridgeport cnc mill and on a Taiwanese mill drill converted to cnc, great little devices.
On the CHEAP? - build a rotary (using an old 3 phase motor & some caps) Got some dough to spend? - Go VFD!!! I'm not familiar with the P21 - to know if swapping the motor is as easy as it sounds. BTW - I made a 10 hp rotary to run my P9 - it works like a champ and I am into it CHEAP!!!
Thanks for all the quick responses. American Rotary says I need a 10 HP $700 and Temco says I need a 15 HP $1000. In this case is bigger better or is bigger a waste of my money? Do you think a 10 HP will work on a Pullmaxn P21S? Also, know where I can buy louver dies for the Pullmax?
My P9 is a 5/6 hp machine (as in 5 hp on slow speed and 6hp on high speed - or vice/versa) anyways I made a homebuilt converter out of a 10HP motor (I got for free, but also used ones are CHEAP at least around here) anyways - the motor I used is a 1750 RPM motor - it would slow down a tad when starting it on HIGH SPEED (3600) so I added a flywheel and it helped a bunch. Pulmax's are nice in the sense that they aren't under a heck-of-a-lota load when you fire them up, but it IS a tad extra firing up a 3600rpm load motor off a 1750RPM idler motor -that's why I added the flywheel. Anyways your motor sounds like mine (ratings-wise) so I don't see why a GOOD 10hp converter wouldn't work - it works on mine and mine it homebuilt so I would ***ume they have theirs tweaked better than I do. YMMV
Depending on what you are going to do with the nibbler, a rotary phase converter might be the best way. If you are thinking about using any other 3-phase tools (lathe, mill or anything else) the rotary phase converter would be money well spent. Your Pullmax is a P21 which has a current similar model which is the P201. It has the capability of shearing 3/16" steel plate, is this what you are going to use it for? If you are going to use it for sheet metal, then you should be able to use a 3HP VFD on it without any problems. I ran my Pullmax 4HP motor on a 2HP VFD for 4 years with no problems, it just depends how hard you are using it. I started compiling nibbler information about 8 years ago and my data shows a Pullmax P201 with a 2.4HP motor and the product information sheet shows a 2HP motor, yours might have been changed or upgraded for extreme use. For louver dies, contact Neil Dunder: http://www.gogitzit.com/ or Clay Cook: http://www.ccookenterprises.com/ Neither of these guys show the louver dies on their webpage, so you'll have to call. Attached is a Product information sheet for the P201 nibbler:
as a owner of a 20hp CNC version of the rotary convertor from American Rotary i,d listen to what they recommend they know their stuff , they have my business as long as they continue producing them . when we fired up the convertor after wiring it up and tested each leg for voltage it produced exactly what they had stated it would .
Running 3 phase will also save you money on your electric bill. Take the time to build a converter.I have plans on building one send me a email and I will forward the information.
Re that link at #19, I reckon a momentary switch for the starting capacitor would solve the problem of burning up a motor after a power failure. Your electrician may disagree.
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