Sharing a grinder motor source

EdCaffreyMS

EdCaffreyMS

"The Montana Bladesmith"
Today when I got home from my treatment, FedX had delivered a brand new motor my my latest grinder build. I decided to go with a 3hp and a KBAC 29D controller. Stumbled around the net for a while, and found these two outfits......

http://www.ptjindustrial.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=116107
$249 and free shipping for a Leeson 3HP TEFC motor! :eek: I'm on it!!!
Looks like they carry a lot of differnt HP ratings in Leeson motors....and they are all very fairly priced!

Found the Controller here:

http://www.electricmotorwholesale.com/10001-KBAC-29D/

The gentleman I spoke with was super knowledgable, and easy to talk to. I learned a lot during our conversation....I had planned to purchase a 3450rpm motor to avoid having to "double speed" it on the controller. He quickly put the brakes on that plan by telling me that if I went with a 3450 motor, the torque would be cut in half with a VFD! The problem I was having with the low speed motors was some government regulation that specifies shaft size on specific HP size motors.....seems the motor listed above is an exemption to that rule! To explain, most motors of 3 hp come with a 1 1/8" shaft due to the above mentioned regulations.....so that means most of the availalbe drive wheels simply won't fit....but this one has a 5/8" shaft.......so Rob Frink got some more business from me. :rolleyes:

Anyway, Here's a couple of pics:



 
Ed, the reason that the 1800 rpm motor is better than a 3600 rpm is that the 1800 rpm motor has 4 posts rather than 2. That is why I always recommend the 1800 rpm motors and that, through the VFD, double the rated speed. That is assuming that the motor is induction rated. Not only do you get more torque, because the fan is designed to cool the motor at 1800 rpm, it cools even better at higher speeds and at slower speeds. Just think how the fan is cooling if it is designed to cool at 3600 rpm and you are running it at 100 rpm.
 
I dealt with Electric Motor Wholesale last week for a VFD and Leeson 1HP, and I was very impressed. I also order the reversing switch for my KBAC 27D from them, so now the TW90 runs backwards too. I wish I would have found that other source for Leeson motors, they have a better price. The guys at EMW were very helpful with setting up my VFD and making sure I got the proper one.
 
If you are using the VFD with a 1 hp motor you could have used the KBAC 24D and saved, probably, about $100.00. But you will probably find that you need at least a 1.5 hp motor for a belt grinder. Travis usually has a 2 hp motor on his belt grinders so you may actually be better off with the KBAC 27D if you have to upgrade your motor.
 
I bought 2 VFD's from ElectricMotorWholesale.com this week. And 5 or 6 over the last few years.
They are great folks to deal with.

Though I buy switches and boots elsewhere, as they are much less expensive, even at McMaster-Carr.
 
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