"oddjobboy" wrote in message
om...
Anyone had any experience of dropping a new single phase motor into
something like the old 10" Wadkin I've been offered for notalot?
It seems like too good an offer to pass up, but I'm concerned that
there'll be more to the three-phase to single phase conversion than
simply exchanging the motor. I guess there's all the switches etc to
consider as well.

I've done a little research on the Net into phase converters but it
seems a bit like overkill buying an inverter for just the one piece of
kit. And they're not cheap either...

No experience of the Wadkin, but I did a similar job on an old Metalclad 10"
some time ago.

You'll need the new motor and a new starter box (the "switches"). The
outfit that supplies the motor will usually supply the correctly rated
starter for it.

Things you need to take into account:

Motor output power. You'd need at least 1HP for a 10" machine. 2HP would
be better, assuming your shop electrics would handle the load, as it would
allow you to take heavier cuts on the full width.

Output shaft dia and length. Some old machines like the Metalclad had the
motor installed inside the body of the machine, with the output shaft
running through the side of the machine. The pulleys for the motor shaft
and cutterhead and, obviously, the drive belt, were on the outside of the
machine, covered by an easily-removed guard cover. This arrangement meant
that it was fairly quick and easy to get at the belt, but - and this was the
sticking point - it also meant that the motor needed a 6" long shaft. Most
of the cheapish Chiwanese motors from places like Clarkes/Machine Mart were
less than 4". I ended up getting the base machinist to make me up an output
shaft extension with a keyed sleeve to join it to the new motor shaft.

You also need to consider the dia of the shaft and the keying arrangements
for the pulley. If you're in the UK, the chances are that your old pulley
will be an imperial size and the new motor metric, in which case you might
need to consider a new pulley as well. Places like Machine Mart will also
supply a range of pulleys. Choose the one with the closest external
diameter.

You also might need a forklift to handle the machine!

It's a worthwhile investment, I'd say - the old Wadkin machines were built
like tanks, spares bearings etc are still available, so it'll probably
outlast the both of us.

Best of luck, enjoy your machine.

Frank





---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.775 / Virus Database: 522 - Release Date: 08/10/2004