On 9/11/2012 5:06, Tom Gardner wrote:
I have a 7.5 hp 36" Tannewitz vertical band saw that we don't use much
any more. We used it for production wood cutting and it zinged through
5/4 hardwood like butter.

Could I put a VFD on it to cut metal?

I think you need about 10% of wood spped for steel.

How about changing a motor with different RPM, for example with
1:10 gear reduction? Would add torque nicely.

It might work with a good flux vector VFD, providing good torque
at slow speeds.. Just add a fan to blow air to the motor, as the
motor fan won't provide enough air at low speeds. Might not be
reasonable because of cost of the VFD, unless you find it used.

Kristian Ukkonen.