Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Home shop power for a big machine

If the plate says 80 amps, then you'll probably need 80 amps. The
issue is that the way that modern VMC's work, they tend to start and
stop the motor abruptly, which means that you will pull the full
startup load quite often, even if you don't run production feeds. For
example, on the Haas VMC's that I use, if you watch the spindle load
meter, the needle swings all the way full scale whenever the motor
starts and stops, even though it is only at maybe 5-10% of full load
when cutting.

On Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 7:10 AM, vrsculptor <vrsculptor@...> wrote:
> I was lusting over a big VMC that would never fit in my home shop and
> got to wondering about power. The machine's data plate says 230 volts
> 3PH @ 80 AMP's, 18KVA. It has a 15 HP spindle.
>
> I could use a rotary phase converter to generate the three phase but
> don't have anywhere near 80 AMP's available. 18KVA/750 watts equals a
> 24 HP phase converter.
>
> If you where using this machine in a hobby environment and not trying
> to get production feeds and loads how small of a phase converter could
> you get by with?
>
> Roger
>
>