[TheForge] Variable Speed Motors and Beaumont Metalworks

[Mark Pesetsky]

Greetings all --
     A conversation with another FABA member finally got me off
dead center.  We're kicking around knife grinder designs and the
advantages/costs of DC motors - and I volunteered to tap the
collective wisdom of TheForge. Both of us work on the older model
Bader units (with multiple speeds produced by swapping drive wheels)
but haven't used a variable speed model.

Do the advantage of  a continuous variable speed system justify the
price over a multiple pulley/AC motor system?

What's a good source for a 1.5 to 2 HP variable speed unit (motor
and controller) -

Does anyone have any comments on the Beaumont grinder components?

I'll compile the comments and eventually let you folks know how the
projects turn out.  Thanks in advance for any info provided.


I have a 2 hp 3 phase unit with a VFD (variable frequency) controller. It
inverts single phase to 3 phase and acts as a variable speed drive as well.
I would recommend this/or a DC unit as opposed to the pulley drives ANY
DAY!! The VFD has some many parameters that you can set it is silly!! Go
here:

http://www.dealerselectric.com/

These are the people that I have gotten my VFD's/Motors from on occasion. 3
phase motors are cheaper/more efficient in the long run. You can also find 3
phase motors on e-bay all day long.

Good Luck
Mark