william_b_noble wrote:
so, after wanting a milling machine for a few years, I broke down and bought
one - this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7556615290
to be specific. I've mailed $$ to the manufacturer in Sweeden who will send
me the manual (cheap, 55 euros), so now while I'm waiting for delivery, I'm
turning my attention to the next problem - how to power it.

You will notice that it says it's 440V - I don't know if the motors, etc are
dual voltage or not, but my garage doesn't have 440 in it. Of course I can
use a transformer and a bunch of VFDs or a rotary phase converter, or ....
but I wonder what the group experience might be. I can also rewind the
motor for 220 and use an off the shelf VFD, or I can modify a 440V VFD so it
accepts a DC input and then make a DC power supply (e.g. full wave doubler)
to supply it from the 220, or .......
You'll never get away with this. The doubler will make all your lights
and other electrical gear go crazy, and may even cause the transformer
on the pole to pop its breaker. This is a 5 Hp motor! The transformer
scheme is a LOT better idea. Step down transformers are quite easy to
come by. It may only have 2 motors - one for the spindle and one
for the power feed. The power feed motors might also be small
split-phase capacitor-run motors, ie. single phase, and maybe even
running off a small 440 - 220 transformer. It depends on whether the
power feeds are mechanically clutched or electrical.

Rewinding the motor(s) is going to be more expensive, unless you have a
friend in the motor business. The standard power in Europe, I believe,
is 415 V. So, if this machine is 440 V, it may indeed have dual-voltage
motors, special for the US market.

Jon