Commissioning my 3 phase lathe

[Fazerruss]

Hello all, this is my latest project. I bought a second lathe for the workshop. It's a very lightly used Colchester Bantam manufactured in 1973. It has the change wheels to cut both metric and imperial threads.
First job was to get it off the trailer...


With a little help



And into position

 

[Fazerruss]

Next job was some anti vibration feet. They are bloody expensive to buy and I'm a tight Yorkshire man so I made my own...

 

[Fazerruss]

The one at the rear needed a longer bolt to go through the level adjuster but I didn't have any long 14 km bolts so I used an M12 and made some top bushes to give a nice snug fit.

 

[Fazerruss]

She's looking lovely now.....

 

[Fazerruss]

Now I need some three phase power for it.

I managed to be hold of a Transwave static inverter for not much money. I would have preferred a rotary phase converter but beggars cany be choosers.
Time for some alterations....

 

[zzr1200]

Your workshops way to clean and tidy for my liking....

 

[Fazerruss]

The plan was to add an idler motor to make it a true RPC but I also wanted to keep an eye on the output voltages and current draw so I also fitted some VA meters for each phase...

 

[Fazerruss]

Next task was somewhere to put it and the best place is up here....

 

[Fazerruss]

Your workshops way to clean and tidy for my liking....

I cant cope with working in a **** hole!


Oops, the swear filter kicked in but you know what I said!

 

[Fazerruss]

Anyway, here is the stand /shelf thing in the making......

 

[Fazerruss]

 

[Fazerruss]

 

[Fazerruss]

 

[Fazerruss]

And here it is fitted......

 

[Fazerruss]

And the proof in the pudding.
The first image is the output from the static with no idler motor or load. Technically speaking these do not produce 3 phase. Instead they up the voltage from 240 to 415.and have start and run caps to help.the motor start from stationary and balance the phases.

 

[Fazerruss]

Next pic is with the lathe running but no idler motor plugged in.


The numbers aren't bad but could be better.

The generated phase is slightly below 400v

 

[Fazerruss]

Now with the idler connected you can see the current draw is more even across the phases and the output voltages are closer to 415v



One other thing I noticed is the lathe starts up much quicker with the idler motor connected and the voltage drop at initial start up is less.
So advise is if you have a static inverter then run a idler motor too as it makes a significant improvement in performance.

 

[ukracer]

Now I need some three phase power for it.

I managed to be hold of a Transwave static inverter for not much money. I would have preferred a rotary phase converter but beggars cany be choosers.
Time for some alterations....
View attachment 195873

My colchester master 2500 runs fine off a transwave static. But I am always open to suggestions.

 

[Hood]

When I first started out I had a transwave and like you I fitted an idler motor. Not only did it balance things better but it allowed me to go from Fwd/Rev without having to first stop.

 

[Fazerruss]

My colchester master 2500 runs fine off a transwave static. But I am always open to suggestions.

For what a second hand three phase motor costs it's well worth it. Just wire it up in parallel with the output so it comes on as soon as you turn on the inverter. The extra current draw is minimal but the advantages are great. Your lathe will start up better and run smoother.