I bought a Bridgeport mill...

[T-DOGG]

I use a Chinese VFD with single phase 220 input and power both my 3 phase motors, a .75hp on the mill and a 1.5hp on the lathe. I use a 2 position toggle switch to go from mill to lathe. Over a year with no issues. Except that I discovered recently I've been running it as default 50Hz instead of 60Hz. Now the motors run quieter and I gained some RPM too, not that I necessarily needed it.

 

[T-DOGG]

Cool! Guy down the street has one with computer controls for it asking $2500, wish I could justify it.

Does he have it listed online somewhere?

 

[Creedmoor]

My old bridgeport and logan lathe are on VFD's.
I had never used a roto phase and it just didn't sound like a good idea to me.
We have three phase at the farm but not my shop so I was familiar with it.
Of course, the price of a VFD goes exponentially up with the hp requirements, but a little 2 horse Bridgeport was a couple hundred max IIRC. Runs it very nicely.

Not all VFD's are made just to convert single to three phase, some are just speed control, our new-to-us grain dryer uses them and it's so nice to have an auger turn the right speed, not just full speed.

I will say that using a VFD on the mill did increase my learning curve as a complete noob, as the speed on the mill dial becomes meaningless.

Thank you, I was just surfing some of the new stuff on the market.
But yes, Ive been around VFD's But all were in the elevator industry or well pumps up to 10hp, and its been a few years now. I have a 5hp roto phase and it does a good job especially over a static box.
I'm not a machinist myself, fabricator/welder is a better fit.
I bought it when I first bought a 3hp 4"x72" belt grinder and my metal 2hp Kalamazoo saw.

 

[Creedmoor]

I use a Chinese VFD with single phase 220 input and power both my 3 phase motors, a .75hp on the mill and a 1.5hp on the lathe. I use a 2 position toggle switch to go from mill to lathe. Over a year with no issues. Except that I discovered recently I've been running it as default 50Hz instead of 60Hz. Now the motors run quieter and I gained some RPM too, not that I necessarily needed it.

Are you loosing a 1/3 of your motor HP like when to use a Static Starter to run 3 ph on single ph?

 

[T-DOGG]

Are you loosing a 1/3 of your motor HP like when to use a Static Starter to run 3 ph on single ph?

You are speaking above my knowledge base. I learned enough about a VFD to be able to purchase the correct one and wire it up.

 

[ditcherman]

You are speaking above my knowledge base. I learned enough about a VFD to be able to purchase the correct one and wire it up.

Same!
Wire it up, “look at that it works!” and go on with life.

 

[T-DOGG]

Same!
Wire it up, “look at that it works!” and go on with life.

Pretty much how it was. I think the programming instructions were written by NASA.

 

[dprimm]

Cool! Guy down the street has one with computer controls for it asking $2500, wish I could justify it.

Dang. We paid aaay more than that

 

[femurphy77]

Does he have it listed online somewhere?

No, he had a garage sale posted on Nextdoor a few months back, I'll see if I can find his contact info or the post and link it.

 

[MrSmitty]

Congrats they are great machines,In the 70’s my dad had a mill, think it was a Bridgeport, that was made in the 1920’s, was amazing. I’m sure it’s still going strong somewhere!

 

[femurphy77]

Here's the original ad for the garage sale with the milling machine I spoke of above. You should be able to track him down thru next door. https://nextdoor.com/p/yW4GG_5b5ZJ-/c/1077638142?init_source=search&query=garage sale tools

I don't know if he still has it or not but I've never seen it advertised since the original sale. He also had a high quality (USA Made) drill press at the time.

 

[TheGrumpyGuy]

Websites that make you sign up for them in order to view anything suck ***

 

[ditcherman]

If it’s the bargain we’re all dreaming could be it’s long gone.

 

[TheGrumpyGuy]

If it’s the bargain we’re all dreaming could be it’s long gone.

I was just curious what it looked like, doubt it would fit in my tiny apartment

 

[tomcat13]

Congrats on a Nice Purchase.
Dad was a Retired Machinist w/30+ Yrs of Exp.
I remember him speaking Fondly of Bridgeport Milling machines.
RIP SSGT RMM.