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What is your motor set-up for your KMG?

naccibobacci

naccibobacci

Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
229
I thought that it would be a useful thread to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of different motor set-ups for KMG grinders. What is powering your KMG and what if anything would you change. If you have the ability to change speeds, from a step pulley to a VFD, do you use this option often and under what applications? What is the optimal but not excessive horsepower for general knife making tasks form the big shops to the basements? How are you mounting your motors and keeping tension in your belts? If you feel you have the perfect set-up tell us why. If you wish to change your set-up, what about it did you find deficient? A thread where someone who just bought a KMG could reference and benefit from those with experience.
 
I have the 2 horse VFD setup straight from Rob at Beaumont Metalworks. I also have the base plate he sells as an option which lines things up just right with little or no guesswork. It has a place to mount the VFD on the front of the plate and tapped holes for mounting a tool tree to the back. It does the job for me. Rob really has done his homework on his KMG design and he is constantly looking for innovation to improve it. I think my setup is perfect for me. Others may need more power or speed. Rob has a 3 horse motor and larger drive wheel option available. Pretty much a no brainer in my book, but I'm eager to see what other folks are doing.
 
I have a 2 horse 3 phase with VFD. Did not get it from ROb, but if I had to do it over again, I would buy his setup. Made my own base plate from local scrap yard, as well as tooling arms. I have a mill, so keeping things squared up is not a problem. I have not felt the need for more HP. I let the belts do the work and do not lean into it too hard. Overall, it is so smooth that I actually enjoy grinding. Mine is on a separate table, bolted to the wall beams, so it is very stable.
Chip Kunkle
 
I'm with clw3.

I did buy the bigger drive wheel. I LOVE it turning faster.

I sometimes wish it would go even faster! lol

I have only bogged it down a couple times, and that was more because the belt was pretty dull.

With a fresh 60X blaze orange belt and the 2 hp turned up... you can cause some serious damage to steel. :)
 
1.5hp 1750 rpm direct drive on a VFD
i dont bog (use fresh belts) i use the VFD to over speed for the 50-60 grit and then back to 60Hz for trizac belts to A45 then down speed for sharpening with micron belts
 
I bought the 1.5 hp VFD from Rob. I also have the battleship armor baseplate:D I couldn't buy the 2 hp because i didn't have 220v at the time.
 
I've got a 2hp 3-phase with VFD from Dealer's Electric and one of Rob's baseplates; battleship armor baseplate, that really fits it Joe!. If I had to do it again I'd get the motor and VFD from Rob because his is in a NEMA 4 enclosure and thus safe from grinding dust.
 
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