Variable speed AC motor controller for 120V, 1 ph motor

[Lo Cash John]

Well, I just bought a 1949 Delta Millwaukee 14" band saw with a 1/2 hp, 120V AC motor. The blade speed is a bit on the fast side for metal use so I want to use a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) or Variable Speed Drive (VSD) to dial the motor speed down, up or anywhere in between.

Recently we used one to power up Lo Cash Lester's Southbend vertical milling machine. That VFD had a 240V AC input (2 hot legs) and an out put of 208V AC, 3 phase (3 hot legs). This was perfect since the mill had a 3 phase motor and the speed control was/is AMAZING. You can dial the shaft speed down to about 6 RPM up to who knows what ABOVE stock speeds.

I did a little reading and it looks like single phase motors such as a 120V AC motors like on my saw are not really suitable for variable speed operations. And looking around on-line it looks like MOST VFDs and VSDs are for 3 phase motors.

I am pretty sure that with a single phase motor I can not run the motor in reverse, but for a bandsaw that's pointless anyway. I'm just looking to dial the blade speed down so I can use this thing without killing blades.

Does anyone have any advice?

[KBWAKESK8]

http://www.keenzo.com/showproduct.asp?M ... ID=3698316

My friend uses these on his grinders for when he ports heads. It is not a vfd.

but might help

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 602_263622
120v vfd

[Lo Cash John]

Thanks for the help, but neither one will work.

The first item adjusts output voltage, not frequency. The warnings say not to use it on brushless motors. Brushless motor speeds are dictated by sinwave frequency (hertz), not by voltage.

The second item is like most I've seen; 120VAC input, 208VAC 3PH output AND it's only rated for 1/4 hp motors. I need 1/2hp-1hp rating.

I still have more research to do it seems.

[birddog1148]

What about changing shiv size to lower speed?


we use these at work since Woods quit making the ones we used.
http://www.ab.com/drives/powerflex/4/index.html