Phase Converter for CNC

K

kap pullen

Cast Iron

Joined

Jan 4, 2002

Location

Maryland

• Dec 10, 2006

• #1

I've purchased a Fadel on line and would appreciate some opinions on phase converters.

My Bridgeport cnc ran off a phase converter for some years. It was hooked up so the control ran from the two hot legs instead of the generated leg.

The Bridgeport has now been retrofitted with an AHHA control. The Ahha runs on 110 volts so that is not an issue anymore.

I plan on doing the same with the Fadel as far as using the hot legs for the control.
Is there a need to purchase a "CNC" converter?

Small cnc converters are not expensive and I could purchase one and dedicate it to the Fadel.

The cost of true 3 phase from the power company
is prohibative to have installed.

Thanks for your opinions.

Kap Pullen

 

P

PBMW

Titanium

Joined

Aug 13, 2005

Location

Bremerton, Wa

• Dec 10, 2006

• #2

I have four CNC machines in my shop. Three of them are run off of Phase converters
I bought Phase Perfect digital phase converters. They are not cheap, But they provide cleaner power than teh power company and that is important when repairing fried electronics. There is no phase shift under load as there is with a rotary converter and they are much more efficient, so the cost of operation is lower.
I have two 20hp units and a 10hp unit

 

D

damonfg

Titanium

Joined

Apr 23, 2003

Location

Portland, ME, USA

• Dec 10, 2006

• #3

Which fadal and what main transformer? Many are strapable to run on single phase....
I think mine required a 60A/1ph drop.

 

M

Mark Hockett

Aluminum

Joined

Nov 22, 2004

Location

Clinton, Washington

• Dec 10, 2006

• #4

Kap,
I have a Fadal 15-XT that is 480 volt. I use a Phase Perfect phase converter and a 480 volt transformer with no problems so far. The phase perfect also runs every other 3ph piece of equipment in my shop which includes another CNC mill.

Mark Hockett
Island Tech Enterprises
http://www.islandtechent.com/

More chip less lip

 

S

Scott H

Cast Iron

Joined

Dec 2, 2001

Location

Covington, VA

• Dec 10, 2006

• #5

You can get the single phase transformer for the Fadal and run it from single phase power. I have my 4020 hooked-up like that now. I have also bought a Phase perfect coverter and its runs everything else. I am planning on taking my Fadal back to 3 phase if you would be interested in the single phase transformer.


Thanks,

Scott

 

M

Michael Moore

Titanium

Joined

Jun 4, 2004

Location

San Francisco, CA

• Dec 10, 2006

• #6

I run my Mori Seiki and Tree off a 10hp Phase Perfect.

cheers,
Michael

 

K

kap pullen

Cast Iron

Joined

Jan 4, 2002

Location

Maryland

• Dec 11, 2006

• #7

The machine is a tool room mill.

I don't know what transformer it has yet as the machine in on the west coast.

The dealer says it is either brand new, or used at a show once.

He claims to have bought it from Fadal as inventory reduction.

Here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=016&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=260050110473&rd=1&rd=1

My converter is built from a 10 hp 3 phase motor with a 1 hp motor for starting and running.

Scott, that sounds good. Have to figure if it will work that way.

We were looking at a Haas with the single phase option. The Haas and Fadal dealers are not salesman these days. They are order takers.

I could not get a call returned from either of them.

Thanks for the replys.

Kap

 

D

DDRhead

Plastic

Joined

Apr 18, 2019

• Aug 10, 2019

• #8

Hi, I'm not new to PM, but first time posting. I have a Brother TC 229 that needs 9 KVA and I'm doing the same thing with single phase 220. Does anyone have experience with North America phase converters? - PL-15 would be the model. (Sorry for not starting a new post, not sure how yet!)

 

V

Vancbiker

Diamond

Joined

Jan 5, 2014

Location

Vancouver, WA. USA

• Aug 10, 2019

• #9

There is a sub-forum here dedicated to this subject.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/transformers-phase-converters-and-vfd/

Might post your questions there for best advice.