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  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Mounting your VFD?

    Hi,

    I recently purchased a new VFD for my Hercus Mill :

    Updated NEW 1 5KW 220 250V 7A 2HP Variable Frequency Drive Inverter VFD T7 | eBay

    I'm taking it work so it can get wired up but where do I mount it? I was thinking of making a shelf to put it on the side of the mill. Or maybe in the base where the coolant would of went.

    Where does everyone else put there's? At this stage I doubt if I'll be running more than one machine of the VFD but who knows in the future.

    Cheers Ben.

  2. #2
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Default My VFD mountsDrill press

    Quote Originally Posted by bwal74 View Post
    . . . ..
    I'm taking it work so it can get wired up but where do I mount it? I was thinking of making a shelf to put it on the side of the mill. Or maybe in the base where the coolant would of went.
    Where does everyone else put there's? At this stage I doubt if I'll be running more than one machine of the VFD but who knows in the future.
    Cheers Ben.
    These are my mounts.
    No Mill involved but you might get some ideas from them.
    Lathe 1


    Lathe II


    Drill Press

  3. #3
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    Default

    Hi Ben,

    I must admit that compared to the rest of the project (VFD conversion) I didn't really put a huge amount of thought into where to put the VFD. My main concern was to make sure it didn't get wet (if ever I did end up using coolant) and I dare say that swarf getting inside them (especially in the circuit board) would probably not be too good for them either. Mine is same as Bob's, on the wall behind the machine where it will get all the ventilation it needs but nothing else.

    All the best with the conversion.

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  4. #4
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    Default

    Hi Bob,
    Do you have a picture of the bottom of the VSD on your drill?
    I've never liked that area of my wiring and you seem to have fixed the problem.

    Stuart

  5. #5
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    Default not on the floor

    hi mate. did you have a read of what they recommend in the manual?
    not only should coolant and swarf be avoided but they dont like dust much either. maybe a cabinet with a hinged door so you can access the controls if needed. and keep in nice a protected when not needed..
    if you take the time to set it up. you may not really need to touch the operator panel on front of the vfd.
    when i want to turn mine on i use the lathe power switch to turn on the vfd. When i want to turn the spindle i use the lathe contols to make it run. So it really can just stay in its ventilated box.
    aaron

  6. #6
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stustoys View Post
    Hi Bob,
    Do you have a picture of the bottom of the VSD on your drill?
    I've never liked that area of my wiring and you seem to have fixed the problem.
    Stuart
    Not really.
    The black wire is the power in, Orange is 3Phase out
    Blue is a bit of ethernet cable that goes to the pot and fwd-off-rev switch
    The long rubber grommet with the blue and black wire wants to worm its way off and has to be pushed back on occasionally.

    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #7
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    Default

    Thanks Bob,
    Its better than my effort. While mine is all double insulated, the strain relief is well........ ummmm, lets just call it "less than good".

    Hi Ben,
    All my VSDs are out in the open(well one is in an enclosure but it has no front and a perforated top and bottom). I'm yet to have a problem but that doesnt mean its a good idea. I see it as a toss up. You either leave it out, its small and cooling wont be a problem but swarf/dush maybe or put it in an enclosure which makes it much larger, swarf/dust wont be an problem but cooling maybe.

    Stuart

  8. #8
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    Aug 2009
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    Quindanning, WA
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    Default

    I put mine in an electrical enclosure with a couple of fans for ventilation... Overkill but my shed is quite dusty and sees a bit of condensation. Also allowed me to put a couple of breakers in for the lathe control power supply.

    rDSCN1028.JPG

  9. #9
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    Default

    Hi,

    Thanks for all the replies. Good food for thought. Due to my job I move around a lot, so I'm thinking I'll make up a shelf on the side of the mill with the VFD enclosed somehow. Plenty of time to think about it, not sure when my mate will wire it up.

    Cheers Ben.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
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    Default

    Workshop_VFDr1.jpg
    X3 mill (direction and speed control on the front of the mill head, right under the top cover....). The Yellow/red mushroom switch on the very right under the workshop fuse box, this cuts all power to the workshop except the ceiling lights. The entry door is actually just to the right of this switch.

    Workshop_VFDr2.jpg
    X3 mill VFD close-up

    Workshop_VFDr3.jpg
    X3 mill VFD inside. I uses an Altivar28 with homemade external brake resistor.

    Workshop_VFDr4.jpg
    Emco lathe VFD. Notice the start/direction switch above the headstock, and the big black speed pot wheel on the column between headstock and the DRO above it... and if look again at the first picture, at the very left, on the taable leg right under the tabletop, you see the big red mushroom emergency stop....

    DSCF9958.jpg
    Emco lathe VFD box inside. It uses a Siemens micromaster VFD, with homemade brake resistor. The big power supply on the left is for an electric automatic feed.

    Workshop_VFDr7.jpg
    Hercus VFD, more details can be seen in a recent thread. It uses an Omron VFD with detacheable control panel, now mounted in the box above the headstock, where also the on/direction selector and the speed pot reside...

    Workshop_VFDr6.jpg
    My Waldown drill press with VFD

    Workshop_VFDr8.jpg
    The Lenze VFD is inside a recycled instrument cabinet.....

    Workshop_VFDr9.jpg
    whilst I put the speed pot and direction control in a cast box on the left, it also holds an old reading light (the red thing)....
    When I come around to it, I want to add a twin foot pedal control, to have both hands free to hold the vise and the quill star wheel.... a project that has been put off for years....

    Hope you find some inspiration, Chris

  11. #11
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cba_melbourne View Post
    Hope you find some inspiration
    Now thats how it should be done!

    I have a cabinet not unlike those....... I should get my finger out.

    Stuart

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