-Yessir. But not everyone has a $3,000 to $6,000 Phase Perfect, nor needs one.
While I agree with you on the static converter, I disagree on the VFD, especially on a lathe. All my lathes have a VFD, and in my opinion they're worth every penny, primarily for the fine speed control.
In this case, the OP needs good information- that is, which option may suit him, his setup and his budget correctly. And not an ill-informed, blanket "I'd rather than an STD than a VFD" statement.
Doc.
Well it was at least a SHORTER statement than your longer-winded mis-quote followed by bad advice. Static converter is not a VFD.
What he NEEDS, first lathe, no familiarity, is a simple RPC that needs no delving into the wiring or controls of his new-to-him P&W lathe. Note that I DO harbour an RPC as well as a Phase-Perfect. I didn't scrap all my VFD because I do not understand them. I scrapped them because I understand their nuisance arses all TOO WELL.
A VFD requires he dig in, wire directly to the motor, abandon, duplicate, or tediously integrate on-machine controls, get used to a new way of life as to starting, stopping, setting speed, doing braking and reversing. Are your ones even in NEMA ONE housings? NEMA 4X? Or flimsy plastic with unprotected fans?
Next up is to expect VFD long-term damage to any pre "Inverter Duty" era AC motor. Read nearly ALL of them on our "Old Iron". All
your lathes have newer Inverter duty motors? Good for you. I can't afford that. Phase-Perfect was an
economy move, not a splurge.
Third - "RTFM", find every one of your VFD is "owed" new capacitors 7, 9, at most 12 years out. Not my "opinion". The VFD
MAKER sez so. Even the P-P wants new caps every THREE years. "RTFM" again. I did.
RPC dasn't give a damn, first 20 years or so, and I'm 75 this year so it may as well be "never".
All an RPC requires is appropriate code-compliant breakers, wiring, disconnect - same as a VFD, P-P or commercial mains 3-Phase or even single-phase.
Then one or more Hubbell plugs & socket, SO cord ... to the lathe's OEM disconnect/starter - wotever.
At which point all the EXISTING controls, work light, coolant pump as well as the final-drive motor work just as the factory shipped it all.
Initial cost is about the same as the FIRST VFD, but installation and commissioning time and labour is way less. No muscle-memory re-training, either, if he is accustomed to any "industrial grade" lathe and their resonably common controls. Or even a South Bent.
SECOND and subsequent 3-Phase machine use the
same RPC unless he's twins, triplets, or a circus juggler as can run two or more machines at once.
"All my lathes have VFD" means you ARE a commercial "revenue" shop, DO have staff and DO have to run more than one machine at a time.
That justify's the greater cumulative spend on multiple VFD versus a net-cheaper shared RPC or shared Phase-Perfect for YOU.
Good on yah. Somebody has to pay for our Social Security "transfer payments", and I thank you for that.
But that isn't his situation nor that of other one-man shops, revenue or otherwise.
Four motors on ONE mill, here. Everything HERE has two motors, minimum. I'd need as many as EIGHT VFD, and every one of them would be slowly destroying an old motor that would eventually need replaced.
Why would I want to do THAT when an RPC is clean Sine-Wave inherently and my P-P has been given a supplementary filter to make it just as clean if it wasn't already - or even starts to fail its filter caps?