Anybody buy the Delta 2 HP lathe??

Three phase is usually a rarity in residential sites. The mains are usually 3 phase, but the secondary is usually broken down to single phase 220-240 vac. Threre are also two types of 3 phase, Delta and Wye. I am guessing (CRS) but I think the Delta (triangle symbol) is the rare one. Wye (wye symbol) is usually present in commercial applications. It is generally accepted that there is more consistant power with 3 phase, and smaller guage wire can be used to transmitt the same wattage (more wire of coruse). Alot of people use what is called 'add-a-phase'. . . . there are commercially available unit for sale. ......and some make their own using a synchrous motor and capacitors. ......then one can run 3 phase equipment at single phase sites. If I had the proper 3 phase available, I would surely buy the three phase motor equipment.

All VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives) that I know of are used on a 3 phase motor, even when connected to a single phase supply.

In fact, all induction (no brushes) AC motors must have more than a single phase winding to start. On most of them, this is done by uding a capacitor to shift the single phase supply to a second winding, which is disconnected by an internal centrifical swich as the motor comes up to speed.

Of the lathes themselves, I have no experience.

Jim

Eddie Munster wrote:

Hmmm. Okay. It is a vfd but the lathe is run on single phase. I suppose the others are also 3 phase motors, just don't explain it. I like the Delta lathe, and the X5 model looks to be like the tool hieght problem is resolved. Perhaps with the others too but I can't tell because the pictures they use, are the same.

Anybody have one??I am curious about the adequecy of the bed strength?

Thanks for the reply.

John

Jim Swank wrote:

Yes the bed is adequate for turnings over the ways up to the maximum swing of the lathe. Anything larger can be turned by sliding the head stock down to the right end of the ways and then turn it outboard.

Or is it to flexible? I am looking at the X5, 2 hp, 240 volter.

No it's not flexible it's good and stable. The X5 is the 240 volt version. the other same size models run on 110 volts.

Yes. The VFD (Variable frequency drive) Uses 240 volts single phase, just like the power used to power your A/C, Electric water Heater, electric stove and electric clothes dryer. It converts the 240 volts single phase into 240 volts three phase. That is then fed to the motor and the speed is controlled by varying the frequency. Yes it provides for low speed torque. There are other advantages to this method of controlling motors but I won't go into that here. Just be aware that you will need to get an electrician to run a 240 volt outlet to where ever you plan on putting the lathe in the basement. Make it longer than necessary so you can relocate where you position the lathe. Most folks find out later they need to put them somewhere else.

They don't say this about the other 2 hp lathe

Don't know about the General. I'm talking about the Delta. No problem it usually comes disassembled.

I am not sure how easy it will be to take apart.

A few bolts and its apart, if you get it assembled. Stand and bed

Wiring and drive belt are are all in the head stock and if I remember correctly, the most you would have to do is bolt up the motor and connect three wires to the motor. It doesn't matter which wire goes where.

The head stock does not rotate. It will slide to the end or better yet close to the end and you now have a short bed bowl lathe.

I hope the above helps you. If I can be of additional help, just holler.

Best Regards and have fun with whatever lathe you get. OB

Could you be more specific here? The mains in our town are all single phase. We don't see three phase until we get to the big distribution towers.

These aren't types of phases. These are types of loads you can use on three phase power.

The motor is said to be three phase, but the lathe plugs into single phase

John

DJ Delorie wrote:

"Charles S" < snipped-for-privacy@peoplepc.com> writes: The mains are usually 3 phase, Could you be more specific here? The mains in our town are all single phase. We don't see three phase until we get to the big distribution towers.

There are also two types of 3 phase, Delta and Wye. These aren't types of phases. These are types of loads you can use on three phase power.

Thanks for helping. I got lots of 240 outlets ready to go.

It is your friends opinions that are important. Obviously if they said they had concerns, so would I. I am leaning towards the delta lathe. I don't anticipate making more than one big salad bowl so 16 inches should be fine and I will have to struggle thrugh to make the 20 inch bowl. Not a problem if I have a floor stand tool rest. I was really worried about the bed but your friends seem happy. There isn't one around my parts even on display.

Thank you

John

OB O'Brien wrote:

The motor is said to be three phase, but the lathe plugs into single phase 240V.

John

DJ Delorie wrote:

"Charles S" writes: The mains are usually 3 phase, Could you be more specific here? The mains in our town are all single phase. We don't see three phase until we get to the big distribution towers.

There are also two types of 3 phase, Delta and Wye. These aren't types of phases. These are types of loads you can use on three phase power.

Yes. All of the AC vector and inverter drives control 3 phase motors. Some inverter drives accept only 3 phase input, but most smaller ones use single phase input power.

count wires on the power pole... you have NO businesses? like a grocery store? They usually use 3 phase. count transformers, 1 to a place is a single phase, more than that means 3

--Shiva--

I have an electrical engineering degree. I know how to determine the phase of a power feed.

Nothing big enough to warrant 3 phase power. We're a farming community. We use mostly solar power ;-)

Hi John, I can't help with your lathe questions (though I've been curious about the answers because this lathe is of great interest to me, even though I can't afford it right now). I just wanted to ask if you were aware that you had "return receipts" turned on in your browser preferences? This causes my browser (Netscape 7.1) issue a pop-up box with "The sender of this message has asked to be notified when you read this message. Do you wish to notify the sender?" Of course, maybe you just want to know who's reading your messages, but I always press "no" when I see these...

Steve

Thank you. Return reciepts selected off. What a major pain it must have been for all. And you know the funny thing is I never would have gotten them owing to anti spam practices. I wasn't aware it was happening at all. And if I wondered about it, I would have thought it would only do it for mail not newsgroups. Well now I'm educated.......

About the lathe. I know earlier incarnations of this thing left the tool rest too high for many. Level with centre. I think it is fixed. And I hope other things are debugged in the X5.

John

Steve Turner wrote:

Yes, that fixed it. Glad I could help you figure it out. :-)

Now if I could just convince this woman who is a Girl Scout Service Unit Leader to do the same thing in the 10+ emails that my wife and I receive from her every day in our shared email account (and we're just one of many in her distribution list), then I'd be even more glad! :-)

Thanks for the extra info on the lathe. I'll have to check that out at the Woodworking show in Dallas this weekend (provided Delta is there and they bring one of those lathes with them).