550 volt motor VFD

[Sean in CT]

I just bought a Pullmax metal forming machine. It has a 550v 1hp 3phase motor. I have 208 3 phase power. Found a 208v 3 ph motor at www.surpluscenter.com for <$150 which is OK, however....
I was speaking with a friend who does a lot of fabrication on custom and classic cars. He has a VFD on his pullmax which he uses to slow the machine down, especially when making louvers and similar parts.
SO...
Is there a VFD available to run my 550v 3ph on 208 (single or 3 ph?)
or would i need to get a 208 3ph motor and a VFD?
or would i be best off to find a 2 speed 208 3ph motor?

thoughts? Ideas?

TIA
Sean

[Frederick Harvie]

You have two options
one is to get a transformer to transfrom your power to 550v and then use a 550 volt vfd. The transformer is a common item in Canada as 550v and 208 are both common voltages .
The second is to get a 208 motor and 208 VFD
Either option would give you far more controll then a 2 speed motor.

[L Vanice]

You can find a 208V motor on eBay for a lot less than $150. I bought a NIB $800 list motor for $1 once, and paid another $65 for shipping, just to give you an idea of what might be available. Of course, I bought my VFD's on eBay too, for much less than retail.

To be effective with a VFD at low speeds, you should start with a more powerful motor. If the original motor is 1 HP, then I would use a 2 or 3 HP motor with VFD. You see, if you slow the motor to one half its nameplate speed, you reduce its power to one half its nameplate power. So a 2 HP motor will still have 1 HP at half speed.

There is no point in using a two speed motor with a VFD.

Larry

[Sean in CT]

Thanks for the input

i said 'screw it' and bought a motor b/c there were only 2 left and the price seemed reasonable. i didnt see any great deals on ebay

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.a...tname=electric

Ill try it out and add a VFD if its too fast

thanks
sean

[JoeE.]

I worked at a big sheet metal shop for a long time. It had a big Pullmax machine. Can't remember exactly what model number. It was a big machine. We called it a nibbler. Cut 10 and 14 gauge by the ton.

What I remember about it was the difficulty in setting it up for use, adjusting the cutting tools and stroke.

One man usually ran it, and if he was gone the usual results were no output from the machine cause of the difficulty in set up.