Woodworking Project Kitchen and Bar Area

[Rambozo]

I used to use my big lathe as a phase converter for the rest of the shop. It had a 10HP motor and I added start and run caps, so it would self start. I never needed the full power on that lathe, so I could still use it. Most of the time it would just be shifted into neutral to let the motor provide power for some of the other shop equipment. Worked great for a number of years. Don't have it anymore, and now I use a VFD on my mill. They make good 3 phase equipment into great. Variable speed, braking, lots of extra features out of a plain old 3 phase motor.

[redbeard]

No so much a lot of bars, Just cabinets kitchens and custom furniture . I am 56 now and but bought my first tools when i was 11 and have not stopped building things yet. i just don't get in a hurry anymore due to health issue's. But my shop is very well setup and most machines are dedicated to one operation, I have 5 ,3 hp wood shapers and 1 ,5 hp, 1 extra 3 hp machine for weird setups and specials . Most machines are already setup with fixtures and quick change tooling. I learned a long time ago that the amount of time you lose doing tooling tear down and setup will pay for another machine very fast. I also run a 15 hp phase converter and use the more powerful 3 phase machines to make quick work of jobs and use less power. Anyone with a small shop can save a lot of money buying the 3 phase equipment and running it on a dedicated 3 phase converter and breaker panel for a fraction of the cost of comparable single phase machines. Drill presses, lathes, and milling machines bring a lot less money at auctions if they are 3 phase power instead of single.

Nice to have the dedicated equipment, I have a Shopsmith http://www.shopsmith.com/markvsite/index.htm and the changeover time is starting to be more of a factor as time goes by. It probably wouldn't be so bad if I worked from plans, but as a plan/fit/build as you go guy, it does slow one down considerably. It is one of the reasons I didn't go with a multi-process Everlast machine.

now I use a VFD on my mill. They make good 3 phase equipment into great. Variable speed, braking, lots of extra features out of a plain old 3 phase motor.

Isn't it nice that high power IGBTs are around now to make cool stuff like that?