Looking for advice on a milling machine.

[pugs]

Most of the manual mills (bridgeport type) will be 230 or 240 VAC 3 phase. Not a big deal but it will cost a few more dollars if you only have 1 phase power available. Some are 480 but can change a few wires in the motor and make them run on 240, some are straight 480 only which then would require a step up transformer

There are several ways to make it work.
1. A static phase converter. Typically have low HP ratings only, but are cheap. The ones I have used seemed to not give the full HP of the motor though.
2. A rotary phase converter. Just a 3 phase motor with some start circutry to start on 1 phase and then it acts as a generator for the 3rd phase. Can build the whole thing yourself with some plans available on the net, or as I did buy the start box prewired and source your own motor.
3. A Variable Frequency Drive. This is what I have on my manual mill. Need a slightly larger VFD then the mill motors HP rating and the VFD will create the 3rd phase. Also gives the added benefit of variable speed (I bought a cheaper belt head mill that made up for the price of the VFD and still have variable speed) Mine is capped at a min of 16hz and a max of 75hz, some simple math will give you the actual RPMS

4. Digital Phase converters from phase perfect. These are what I have for my CNC machinery. They work great but are costly (cheaper then running 3 phase power in from 2 miles away though)

Options 2 and 4 can be wired into a 3 phase load center to run multiple machines as long as the most you use at one time doesn't overload the capacity of the converters. Handy if you want to get any other 3 phase stuff in your shop as well.

[9W Monighan]

I made a converter using a static and added a 5hp motor and magnetic starter so if there's a voltage outage it will shut down till restarted. It runs everything in my home shop. I think the biggest motor is on the Powermatic band saw 3hp. It's probably not working to it's ability because it does get a little hot when using for a longer time. The others are just 1.5hp on the Delta Unisaw and shaper. But like PUGS said; You're only running one machine at a time and that won't overload say, a 5hp like mine. One time I bought a hyd punch and it seemed a bit lacking of power. It was hard to see but when I cracked the motor cover open I saw the problem-440V Changed the wires around to 208v and it works beautifully.

[W900snowman]

I'm definetly planning on going with a little larger machine, like a used Bridgeport, It would be good for on the farm too. Pugs, I know what you meen about having the 3 phase close but not quite there, I keep wishing we had 3 phase on the farm but its about 1 mile away. If we ever did switch over I would be rewireing for years I think, no thanks. I have alittle VFD in the basement that I bought last winter when I got on a PLC fix, kinda handy 120v 1ph in and 230v 3ph out. Looking forward to getting a mill and starting on my Manitowoc dragline. One of the mechanics caught me drooling over some of the tools in the machine shop the other night at work. He told me to back my truckin and load it up, I wish

Thanks guys

[9W Monighan]

Originally Posted by W900snowman

I'm definetly planning on going with a little larger machine, like a used Bridgeport, It would be good for on the farm too. Pugs, I know what you meen about having the 3 phase close but not quite there, I keep wishing we had 3 phase on the farm but its about 1 mile away. If we ever did switch over I would be rewireing for years I think, no thanks. I have alittle VFD in the basement that I bought last winter when I got on a PLC fix, kinda handy 120v 1ph in and 230v 3ph out. Looking forward to getting a mill and starting on my Manitowoc dragline. One of the mechanics caught me drooling over some of the tools in the machine shop the other night. He told me to back my truckin and load it up, I wish

Thanks guys

What machine are you going to build? I have some drawings of a 4600 that I was going to build before my 9W idea came about.

[W900snowman]

Right now I'm planning on a 4100W in 1/10 scale. I have a TWH model at home that I have been using for measurements and ideas. I'm still torn how to power it: 24v with on board batteries or use an umbilical cord with off board controllers running off of 120v. Hopefully this spring I'll be able to get started. For now I'm doing a lot of thinking and dreaming.