I'm looking into buying a phase convertor for the shop. Does a CNC router run on single or 3 phase power? Do you have 3 phase in your shop? Thanks
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
Hi Wayne.
We've been very successful selling a couple of different lines of CNC Routers up here in The Great White North. (Anybody interested in learning more can click here).
For most CNC Router installations (other than "light duty", small bed, entry level machines) you pretty much have to have 3-Phase power.
[ March 13, 2002, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: Jon Aston ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Jon, ......and please don't laugh....Is a 3HP phase convertor(Arco Roto-Phase) big enough?
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
Hi again.
I hate to say it, but here I go..."That depends, Wayne". Tell me more about what you plan to do with your router: What kinds of materials do you intend to cut? How thick? If you prefer to keep quiet about your plans, drop me an e-mail.
Jon
Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :
The Gerber D200 used to be sold with a 220V single phase option. Most modern buildings have a circuit with grounded neutral and a 110 bus on either side, so you had 220 single phase from line to line. Good news was, we did not need a new circuit. Bad news was, the distribution was not strong enough to run the router with its peripherals and the air conditioner at the same time. The point of this is, you have to have enough power in the building regardless of whether it is 2 or 3 phase.
For the Sabre it had to be 3 phase. Fortunately for us our building had 3 phase to the building, so all we had to pay for was the drop and an all new electrical panel. The shop is dark for 3 or 4 hours for the conversion. A licensed electrician does the work, the power company inspects it before energizing.
If you can get 3 phase into your building without breaking the bank, then you have one less electrical doo-dad in your shop to take up space and break. 3HP does not sound like a lot. Our Sabre has a 7HP spindle. I think the D200 was 1.5HP.
Don't know anything about phase converters. If it is a motor-generator set, find out about noise levels. If solid state, find out how much to repair if it breaks.
Vic G
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Victor, I'm in the process of wiring the new woodworking shop. I'm pulling power from a 200amp main in the office/computer room to feed a 100 amp sub panel in the woodworking shop. Most of the stuff in the woodworking shop is 220 volt, with about 80 amps total, coming out of the 100 amp sub. BUT...I won't be running all that at the same time. Later though, I intend to re-route the air compressor(29 amps with a 40 amp breaker) back to the 200 amp main to relieve some of the load off the 100 amp sub (with #6 wire to prevent any voltage drop). It is now on the 100 amp sub with #8 wire which is adequate for the distance from the sub.
Anyway, I think there's plenty of power for now. If a router will require 3 phase though, I might do well to check into getting 3 phase before going too far with it.
Thanks
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
We installed a Sabre 408. 3 phase is a must with any heavy duty router table. Needed one 3 ph circuit for the spindle and one for the vacuum blower, 1-220v circuit for the table itself. Also one 110v for the Computer and one 110v for the shop vac chip remover. Then of course you need compressed air for the coolant mist option. Get your check book out.
[ March 13, 2002, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: Duncan Wilkie ]
Posted by Dave Johnson (Member # 2535) on :
A few years back, we installed a MultiCam 48 Plus. 3 phase is a must. Table has a massive vacuum pump. We built a little shed outside the building and plumbed it with PVC to the table outlet to keep the noise level in the shop to a minimum. Router is 7 hp.
I really love this table. 54" x 108" usable surface area. Chris Hanchette of Machine Automation built us a tangental knife for cutting 3M Diamond Grade. It also works great on engineer grade reflectives. Lets us do lots of one piece, prespaced signs and large graphics.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
I just spoke with one of the head honchos at Gulf Power(an electrical engineer) last night. He said it would cost me a fortune to get three phase brought out here in the sticks, if I could get it at all. So, I guess that's out. Surely some of the routers will run on single phase power. After all, you can run up to 10 horse motors on single phase. Nice looking setup Duncan.
Thanks all
[ March 14, 2002, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
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