Hey, i know some of you guys know alot about electricity. I just bought a Bridgeport mill and it's 3 phase. I don't have 3 phase power in my shop. I know they make phase converters, and i've seen some use electric motors to supply the 3rd phase somehow or another. What's the best way to go about this?

Thanks

 

i might be of some help monday when i get to work. we have about 8 bridgeports i'll see what i can find out for you. which model did you pick up?

 

It's a series 1, 1.5hp, variable speed, J head with DRO and power feed. I'm in the market for a lathe as well, which will be 3 phase also, so the converter needs to be able to power both. More than likely the lathe will be a 1.5-3hp motor.

 

google it.

http://www.phaseconverter.com/

Best option would be to get a 600V service, 600/347 would be good.. (347 lighting rocks) But sometimes isnt offered depending on location., or if you dont own the building and dont want to invest etc..

You cant 'add' a phase to single phase with an electric motor and get 3 phase, the wavelenghts are very different. Maybe what you seen what some sort of 3 phase alternator.

I wouldnt waste my time with phaseconverters, eaiter get the proper electrical service to meet the needs of your equipment, or get the proper equipment that will operate off of your electrical service.

Have fun

 

the main issue with phase converter boxes is that even though your motor on the mill or lather is 1.5hp, youll never reach that, as your phase converter wont be efficient enough.

a GOOD converter costs thousands of dollars. google "rotary phase converter"

 

Find me a good mill that runs on single phase power...

I know they have converters that work well, i've seen them in more than one shop. I don't own this building and i'm not paying to bring in different power lines, that's just ridiculous. If i end up with a little less than 1.5hp, i can deal with that, it's not the end of the world, i'm not racing it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I don't own this building and i'm not paying to bring in different power lines </TD></TR></TABLE>

Do it yourself.... Scared ?

 

That's not my dept. lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Find me a good mill that runs on single phase power...

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just put a 110v motor in it. simple and cheapest solution. as for the lathe, you should be able to pick up a small enough lathe that can run on 220/208 like mine.

 

Thanks guys, i found what i needed, thanks Fabman.

Just out of curiosity though, those of you suggesting buying different equipment, changing the wiring into the building, and changing motors, do you have any experience with phase converters? We had one at Norwoods when i worked there, worked fine. Another shop locally that i do some work for has one and theirs works fine. Fabman has one and his works fine. Why would i not get one?

 

Phase converter is the way to go. bridgeport did make a 1hp j-head mill that ran on 110v. but it wasn't very popular due to the lack of power.

 

Tony, we run a cheap static phase converter on our old Bridgeport, its fine. I basically kicks it over with energy stored in a capacitor just to get it running the first second. If there isn't already 3 phase running on your shops pole, having it brought out was $$.

 

Thanks Brian

 

Hey Tony I am in the same situation as you, I found some pretty cheap phase converters on ebay, anything from 3-30hp rotary converters. Haven't bought one yet but plan on it within the next couple of weeks, my friends have used them before with their mills with no issues.

 

I run a very large rotary phase converter in my shop. It powers 2 vertical machining centers, an injection molder, cold saw, granulator, manual lathe, and a manual mill. I used to run my air compressor off it as well before it died.

I don't remember the specs on my converter, but I guess I could look it up if needed. BG&E quoted me $21,000 to bring 3 phase power into my shop, and the phase converter was only a few thousand. BG&E can suck it.

Evan

 

Rotary phase convertor is the way to go just get one with the most hp you plan to run for ex if u have a 1hp mill and 3hp lathe get a 4hp or greater. Dont get a static phase convertor they only run at 2/3 the rated hp. Search google and ebay Ive found some pretty good deals on them.

 

Phase converters work fine, just get a decent sized one for your application/future growth. We ran 2 CNC mills off of a Phase Converter at Hasport for quite awhile, no problems at all.

Better yet Tony, give me that manual mill, and you can come use it in my shop, it has 3 phase.

 

What do u need a manual for dont you have a haas?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by locash &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Phase converters work fine, just get a decent sized one for your application/future growth. We ran 2 CNC mills off of a Phase Converter at Hasport for quite awhile, no problems at all.

Better yet Tony, give me that manual mill, and you can come use it in my shop, it has 3 phase.
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Yeah, Joe has a CNC, but we're going to trade because he can't figure his out, it has too many buttons.

 

There is a ~50hp or so phase converter that is abandoned out in a field near my house. The well was converted to natural gas but the phase converter is there. Too bad it weighs as much as my honda or i'd go snag it. Its still there and still disconnected after ~ 2years

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, Joe has a CNC, but we're going to trade because he can't figure his out, it has too many buttons. </TD></TR></TABLE>

haha, sounds like your gonna make out on that deal . If you dont mind me asking how much did you pick up the bridgeport for?

 

3800 with a kurt vise, DRO, and power feed. The big thing for me is that the machine is local, so there's no shipping involved.

 

nice... Time to start making some nice parts... hehe..

 

Wait till my billet exhaust manifolds come out...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wait till my billet exhaust manifolds come out... </TD></TR></TABLE>

STOP TRYING TO ADVERTISE HERE

By the way, if you want this guys number IM me, he has 3 phase power