I used to use a shop built rotary converter for many years, many years
ago. I replaced it using a Pacific AC power source, not to generate
the 3 phases, but to generate only the delta leg. The Pacific source
is a 3KVA system. I created a 90 degree phase shift circiut to
replace the master oscillator circuit and used to create the delta leg
phase from one of the single phase legs. I do not recall the details,
but the output fully cranked was around 135 to 140VAC, I then used a
buck/boost xfmr to boost the voltage to 208 from ground, This leg
combined with the 240 "wall voltage" results in 240 3 phase delta,
6KVA total.

I have also considered using a Square D varible speed motor
controller. I used this unit with a 10 hp motor at work (3 phase
available) to drive a shop built perm mag generator, etc, etc. The
main point here, I tried "single phasing" the input to the Square D,
surely to find that it would stop working on a power fault, but it did
not. This unit is 18KVA output, and approx 1 cu ft. volume, may have
to be derated a bit if single phased. Has any one tried one of these
in their shop?? Ever wind a coil in a lathe, lowest speed, back gear
still too fast? - go dial down the frequency on the Square D.

I have not swiched over to this system at my shop, still using the
Pacific.....

Thanks,

TLG