Bridgeport mill 3 phase

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I have an opportunity to get a mill (with Dro and auto feed) from my work. It's 3 phase. Not sure how many hp. My garage only has 110 v.

What are my options In terms of a phase conversion? Is this an effective solution? What will I be giving up?

Thanks


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Chances are it's a 2hp, but it MIGHT only be 1.5hp. If 1.5, you can run it off something like a KBAC 27d at 110VAC for 1.5hp.
Your best option would be you get a 220vac feed into the shop, and then power it either with a rotary phase converter, or with an appropriately sized vfd.

3 phase motors in that size range will typically be 220 OR 480 compatible. Depending on where you work, it may currently be wired for 480VAC. Make sure you re-wire it accordingly.
 
Also, you may be tempted to go with a static phase converter, as they are typically MUCH cheaper than a RPC or even a VFD.

Save yourself from a future headache and stay away from SPCs.
 
I once ran an old BP on a static phase converter. Many moons ago. I ran it that way for years with no problems.

Yeah, you'll probably need 220, though you should have that for your HT oven and grinder anyhoo.
 
I'll take a pic of the motor plate tmrw at work. It's nice because our company purchased it new 30 some yrs ago and we just put about $3k into refurbishing it in 2013.


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knife to a gunfight said:
Chances are it's a 2hp, but it MIGHT only be 1.5hp. If 1.5, you can run it off something like a KBAC 27d at 110VAC for 1.5hp.
Your best option would be you get a 220vac feed into the shop, and then power it either with a rotary phase converter, or with an appropriately sized vfd.

3 phase motors in that size range will typically be 220 OR 480 compatible. Depending on where you work, it may currently be wired for 480VAC. Make sure you re-wire it accordingly.
Click to expand...

2HP 3 PH, 220/230/240 volts 3 amps

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Nice!
Definitely going to need 220 in the garage for that, unless you swap out the motor, which can turn into much larger pain than wiring a 220 outlet.


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knife to a gunfight said:
Nice!
Definitely going to need 220 in the garage for that, unless you swap out the motor, which can turn into much larger pain than wiring a 220 outlet.


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Click to expand...

Nah you could run it off an inverter VFD like most of the 2hp motors on variable speed grinders are. You wouldn't have max HP and it would probably decrease the long term life of the motor, but supposedly those static phase converters will also.

I'll go ahead and recommend what I'd recommend to anybody thinking about getting "real" machines. Bite the bullet, get a 10hp Digital Rotary Phase Converter from American Rotary. You'll need a 220V circuit setup for it, but after that you can plug in 3 phase equipment up to a certain size, and hit run. You still may want to put VFD's on some things, but having access to run multiple pieces of 3 phase equipment without having to "convert" each of them, really opens up the possibilities.

I'd be dead in the water without mine, only regret I've got is that I didn't get a 20hp or larger one.
 
An option is to get a LP powered generator that has 240V output and run the mill ( and any other high draw tools) off the generator. With some luck, you sometimes can score a 3Ph generator really cheap. Many of these run very quiet. For rural people, a generator may be a great shop power choice. In town, maybe not as easy.

A few years back, I foolishly turned down a portable power station for $5000. I would have had to borrow/rent a good size truck and drive about four hours to get it.
It was a trailer mounted aluminum box that was about 4X8X6 feet. It had a door on the end for power connections and a door on the side for controls and such. It was diesel and put out 50KW in 120/240 single phase and 240/480V 3Phase. It was used by a medical company for emergency power during hurricanes and powere outages, and only had a couple hundred hours on it. It was being sold because the company was moving to another city. I later found it was worth about $80K
 
I agree with Salem, get the mill and then work out the power issue. It's not that hard to run a 220vac subpanel to your garage. Have you had an electrician look at it yet? Most places will quote it at no charge.
 
plas62 said:
I agree with Salem, get the mill and then work out the power issue. It's not that hard to run a 220vac subpanel to your garage. Have you had an electrician look at it yet? Most places will quote it at no charge.
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Yes three quotes ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. My 200 amp panel is on the other side of the house from the garage about 40-50 feet away. I have one outlet in my garage where basically run everything for Knife Making off. I need power badly in my garage .... Maybe later this year in December if I get a nice xmas bonus. :-)


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Having the 220 in your shop expands the possibilities for expansion. There are many tools that run more efficiently on 220. We purchased a 1.5 hp Bridgeport 6 years ago , not knowing anything at all about machining. Today it has a brand new 3 axis CNC operating system and is the back bone of our shop. Never pass up a good deal, as Stacy noted, they might play a big roll in the future.

Fred
 
ive been using same machine with same autofeed and dro at work for 10+ years now..that is an awesome setup! hey maybe you can find an electrician who needs a good knife :)
 
Shame I don't live any closer. I'd help you put one in for a case of beer and a good meal.

It's really a very straight forward process in most cases, though it does have a couple of minor intricacies here and there. The hardest part is just figuring out where and how you want to run the cable.
 
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