From Broken to Beast: Mini Lathe VFD Motor Upgrade Revealed!

Here it is. upgrade time. I got fed up with replacing motors and controllers on this lathe. 2 motors burnt out on me and one controller just stopped working. these electrics are a minefield on the Chinese mini lathe's, especially when they are 110v DC!!! Not compatible with adding coolant.
so I decided to convert it to a 3phase variable frequency drive controlled motor. giving me 3x the power and 4x the torque.
WORDS OF CAUTION: this is not fully upgraded and finished. Main lathe controls are being reinstated in the next video. So that they are at the front of the machine.
PRODUCT LINKS
Taper roller bearings. amzn.to/3OHdNf5
VFD controller unit amzn.to/3pWqo3H
1.5KW (2.0HP) THREE PHASE MOTOR 2 POLE (3000RPM) 80 FRAME
www.mmengservices.co.uk/produ...
Belt and drive pulley. The pulley was a custom order to suit Motor shaft.
Drive Pulley
32-T5-10mm (PB) Timing Pulley, bore size, 3/4" inch, keyway width, 6mm, grub screws,2 x Grub Screws.
Drive belt
Synchroflex T5 550mm Width 10mm.
www.bearingshopuk.co.uk
#minilathe #vfdmotor #latheupgrade

Пікірлер: 29

  • @yveslegrand9826
    @yveslegrand9826Ай бұрын

    Using a AC asynchronous motor you don't need a RPM meter, you can just use the inverter display. Then you can use a different pulley size to improve low speed torque and motor cooling while still being able to run it fast enough by "over clocking" the motor (up to 80Hz ... or more with a few electronic tricks). I also consider this type of mini lathe improvement so you video was quite interesting and useful: thank you!

  • @hampopper3150
    @hampopper3150 Жыл бұрын

    I used a 550w servo sewing machine motor. I made poly V belt pulleys and I have bought 180j6 poly v belt. I made a plate that bolts to the head for the motor to sit on made out of 4x1/4 flat stock. Right now its like a 2.8 to 1 ratio and its so nice being able to cut threads with the motor at 100-500rpms. Being able to stop and go instantly is truly mint I tell ya.

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    Жыл бұрын

    Another great type of conversion. 👍🏻 I had weighed up lots of options. Treadmill, single phase, Even looked at brushless rc motors, but this was far to complicated with the volts and amp ratings. I wanted more torque, not so much for heavy cutting but to handle harder materials like silver steel. (Which killed the 2nd motor) the plan is to reinforce the head and replace the hpl with Ali at some point. In the mean time I will not be pushing it too hard.

  • @tomrichardson7792
    @tomrichardson7792 Жыл бұрын

    Good stuff

  • @Pushyhog
    @Pushyhog7 ай бұрын

    Great, i watched alot of these. You will not destroy, u put the t. Roller bearings in.

  • @RustyInventions-wz6ir
    @RustyInventions-wz6ir4 ай бұрын

    Just found your channel and Subscribed. Very nice video.

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    4 ай бұрын

    Welcome aboard!

  • @user-iy5og6hq9u
    @user-iy5og6hq9uАй бұрын

    Any more powerful motor Will less chance to get damage

  • @WayneCook306
    @WayneCook306 Жыл бұрын

    Good job, I also would make up a metal spacer to go between the pulleys rather than that plastic one it is shit.👍👍👍

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you. Absolutely agree about the spacer 👍🏻 now the lathe is fixed I can make all the changes I want to, like the spacer and the winding handles that come unscrewed. 🤦🏻

  • @mrcpu9999
    @mrcpu9999 Жыл бұрын

    I enjoyed this. Do you think the vibration of the motor being tied directly to the frame is going to mess with getting a good surface finish?

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    Жыл бұрын

    I’ve not had an issue with vibration. The motor and pulley are really well balanced. If it had been an issue I did have a plan to balance the pulley, but it was not needed.

  • @WayneCook306
    @WayneCook306 Жыл бұрын

    Angular contact bearings will fit straight in no mods needed they are the bee's knees for these lathes and no need to repack for the life of the bearings.

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    Жыл бұрын

    I’ve never dealt with angular contact bearing. I’ll do some research on them as I might need something like that in future projects. I have machinery at my workplace that use the taper roller bearing, the machine run 24/7 360 days a year. So I know they have the durability to last.

  • @WayneCook306

    @WayneCook306

    Жыл бұрын

    @@oakfieldscreativeworkshop They work exactly the same as the tapered bearings but will go within the same space as the old roller bearings.

  • @zjeng1
    @zjeng15 ай бұрын

    Which pulley and belt did you use? Great video, thanks for sharing.

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    4 ай бұрын

    The details of the pulley and belt are in the description. Hope this helps.

  • @zjeng1

    @zjeng1

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks, overlooked it :)

  • @PeckhamHall
    @PeckhamHall Жыл бұрын

    Never remove an emergency stop button, especially on 3-phase work shop equipment, as this is your last chance saloon when operating the machine. I am just saying this as you may want to highlight it, looking forward to the other mods.

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    Жыл бұрын

    You’re absolutely right, I’m currently working on my second video of this lathe, where I am reinstating the old controls and lathe guard linked back to the Inverter controls.

  • @billpierce6792
    @billpierce679211 ай бұрын

    Hi great video,what rpm motor did you choose ?

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    11 ай бұрын

    The motor I used was a 3000rpm motor to give me a 1:1 ratio.

  • @billpierce6792

    @billpierce6792

    11 ай бұрын

    @@oakfieldscreativeworkshop That's great news as I've ordered the 2800 rpm motor, will be using the mandrel conversion method on a 2-1 ratio as I think around 1400 to 1500 rpm is fast enough for my mini lathe

  • @Pushyhog
    @Pushyhog7 ай бұрын

    Get a 5" four jaw chuck . TOSS THE plastic thing

  • @gangleweed
    @gangleweed Жыл бұрын

    Gulp....Batman don't you think that motor is a bit overkill?

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    Жыл бұрын

    It could well be, but I have just seen someone fit a 3kw motor to one. Now that is definitely over kill. I just don’t trust the Chinese 110v dc motors anymore. For one they definitely will not work with coolant and they are just not reliable enough for me. But I would much prefer the weak point to be a £10 belt than a £150 motor at least that’s my justification for it.

  • @legallyfree2955

    @legallyfree2955

    Жыл бұрын

    @@oakfieldscreativeworkshop Someone being Artisan Makes? If so I think that was a 3HP or 2.25KW motor. Overkill is always better than underkill especially when the price isn't that much different ;)

  • @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    @oakfieldscreativeworkshop

    Жыл бұрын

    @@legallyfree2955 it was Artisan Makes 👍🏻 a very powerful motor and he has lots of upgrades on his lathe to take the power. I’m not sure from what I saw on his video if he kept the carriage feed as he runs it with no gear.

  • @Mike61259
    @Mike61259Ай бұрын

    Most chinese electric machines like lathe, table saw, ... are good as a diy project. It is best to order without motor/ electronics (if possible) and complete by Do it yourself. We can save the Harbor freight's Northern tool's fee and got much better machine. .