Just scored a nice 15" clausing lathe at a salvage sale at my company. I have run this lathe for the past 20 years. However it has a 7 1/2 h.p. 220/440 3 phase motor. I only have 220 single phase. What is the most economical way to power it? rotary phase converter? change to big 220 single phase motor? I have also been reading about the new phase inverters-havent got a price yet- anybody used one? Thanks, Dale
I am in the same spot as you but a 5 hp. A friend of mine works at a commercial electrical house and was telling me about a converter box. It will knock it down from 3 ph. to single. Very simple hookup from the sounds of it. It is not for full time us but more for a weekend user for short periods of time. Best of all his cost to me was just under $200. If you want more info let me know.
check out http://www.practicalmachinist.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Phase+Converters+and+VFD&number=3&DaysPrune=1000&LastLogin=
I had a homemade converter to run my Milling machines. I'm no electrician but I will try to tell what I was told. A 3 phase motor will run on single phase but won't start. What this homemade job consisted of was a small hp single phase motor connected to a 3 phase motor by a V-belt. The 3 phase motor has to be at least the size of the equipment you are powering, your case 7 1/2 hp. With a pushbutton, momentery, switch you power the single phase moter to get the big one spinning. When up to speed you let off the pushbutton and throw power, knife switch, to the 3 phase which will run and make power for your lathe motor. A local electrician could wire this up for you.I hope this helps.
The Jalopy Journal
