Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Monarch conversion to VFD

Hi Paul:
I heard about the genuine Monarch replacement; the reports on prices
scared me off that notion!!!
I'm told to expect about the same money again to do the conversion by this
route. OUCH!!!
An AC motor and VFD can't possibly cost 10 grand. Can it???
At 650 bucks a day charge out rate, I can afford to spend a couple of weeks
on it and still come out ahead, but I don't want to.
Problem is, any Monarch that I buy has the same potential problem, which is
a major Achilles heel on an otherwise almost perfect machine for my needs.
The solid state DC controller that you mention is the route the machinery
dealership has been struggling with for the last 4 months.
So far--- no bananas!!
With my nonexistent electronics expertise, I'm looking for a solution that
involves only a simple hookup.
Jon Elson posted with the comments that it's not a big problem so I'm
hopeful, but then he's a whiz at this kind of stuff.
Thanks very much for your comments; I appreciate it!!
Cheers

Marcus

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Amaranth" <paul@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Monarch conversion to VFD


> If you have lots of money, Monarch supplies a VFD conversion package
> for the machine. That will get you up and running fast, if that's
> important.
>
> I know a fellow who did a really nice conversion on his 10ee to a
> VFD drive. He made a few bits to mount the motor on the gear box;
> worked out really nice.
>
> $10K Cnd seems a little on the high end for a machine that you'll have
> to do a motor conversion on. I got mine on the low end - $300 US, but
> it's a project lathe.
>
> You probably don't want to hog off a lot of metal on a 10ee; it's a
> precision machine. If I want a 1/4 inch cut, I'll use my Leblond.
>
> An alternative to a VFD is a solid state DC control, if the DC motor
> is in good condition. This isn't all that hard to do, but you need
> 2 controllers: one for the armature and the other to do field weakening
> to get to the top speed, plus a safety cutout in case the field supply
> frazzes out.
>
> Some lathes have a couple of belt drive speeds on the spindle and the
> rest gear driven for better surface finish on high spindle speeds. My
> LeBlond has 4 speeds where the spindle is belt driven. If you need to
> do heavy cuts and you only have space for 1 lathe, look around for this
> feature.
>
> Paul