25-03-2014, 12:47 PM
Hi,
Thanks for asking Gary and a very good question because so many avoid 3 phase machines for a home workshop. As you know I have the big home made 3 phase transformer installed but I'll not use this; instead I intend to buy another single to 3 phase VFD for use on this Lorch; I already have a couple of motors but would like to pick up a cast iron 3 phase motor if cheap enough. By converting to 3 phase via a new VFD I will in fact add a lot of value to this already most desirable lathe because the lathe will still run from single phase 240V but give full variable speed etc. I've recently done this with my fully restored Graduate lathe and the Graduate is a joy to own and use; it purrs at 1,500 revs running very smoothly indeed. Any electrical upgrade I carry out Gary will be easily reversible but as you suggested yes this is a lathe for me to keep; it's a lovely lathe and of a size I can use in anger unlike my Clarke lathe which I regard as a toy.
I don't want to play around wasting lots of time Refugee with this old unusual motor; I can afford to upgrade adopting the new drive mentioned above; I had hoped the new bearings would quieten this motor right down but it's disappointing me; it's not the original motor so it's not as though I'm being a vandal. Thanks for your suggestion though and perhaps I will play with this motor assuming I ever get any free time? Regarding the flat drive belts Refugee; yes only one pre-jointed belt can be installed but I'll be looking into how to joint the second belt; I certainly don't want to hear metal clips tapping on the three pulleys; I have some suitable brand new leather belting which I could joint on the lathe using hot hide glue or stitching the old way with waxed cord?
Thanks for asking Alan D; I haven't a clue as to what type this old motor is because I've never come across one like it previously; it's half horse power and single speed but it is reversible by pulling the lever. I'll possibly use this motor on another project because it is so unusual and in working order. I've cleaned everything I could see that would affect performance; given it's size it's a bit small to what I'm used to; I have a 1.1Kw motor installed in my Graduate so it's never short of power for roughing cuts; I'd like to build the same performance into this Lorch.
Dinner time coming up rapidly so got to go; thanks though for asking all the questions.
Kind regards, Col.
Thanks for asking Gary and a very good question because so many avoid 3 phase machines for a home workshop. As you know I have the big home made 3 phase transformer installed but I'll not use this; instead I intend to buy another single to 3 phase VFD for use on this Lorch; I already have a couple of motors but would like to pick up a cast iron 3 phase motor if cheap enough. By converting to 3 phase via a new VFD I will in fact add a lot of value to this already most desirable lathe because the lathe will still run from single phase 240V but give full variable speed etc. I've recently done this with my fully restored Graduate lathe and the Graduate is a joy to own and use; it purrs at 1,500 revs running very smoothly indeed. Any electrical upgrade I carry out Gary will be easily reversible but as you suggested yes this is a lathe for me to keep; it's a lovely lathe and of a size I can use in anger unlike my Clarke lathe which I regard as a toy.
I don't want to play around wasting lots of time Refugee with this old unusual motor; I can afford to upgrade adopting the new drive mentioned above; I had hoped the new bearings would quieten this motor right down but it's disappointing me; it's not the original motor so it's not as though I'm being a vandal. Thanks for your suggestion though and perhaps I will play with this motor assuming I ever get any free time? Regarding the flat drive belts Refugee; yes only one pre-jointed belt can be installed but I'll be looking into how to joint the second belt; I certainly don't want to hear metal clips tapping on the three pulleys; I have some suitable brand new leather belting which I could joint on the lathe using hot hide glue or stitching the old way with waxed cord?
Thanks for asking Alan D; I haven't a clue as to what type this old motor is because I've never come across one like it previously; it's half horse power and single speed but it is reversible by pulling the lever. I'll possibly use this motor on another project because it is so unusual and in working order. I've cleaned everything I could see that would affect performance; given it's size it's a bit small to what I'm used to; I have a 1.1Kw motor installed in my Graduate so it's never short of power for roughing cuts; I'd like to build the same performance into this Lorch.
Dinner time coming up rapidly so got to go; thanks though for asking all the questions.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
