Variable Frequency Drive for Windmill?

Anyone have experience using a variable frequency drive on a press? I just got a Heidelberg Windmill with a 3-phase motor. My shop isn’t set up for 3-phase, and an electrician friend suggested I try installing a variable frequency drive instead of getting a single-phase motor. I’ve never heard of one of these things before, so I’m curious if any of you have ever used one.
thanks!

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I have four of them in my shop and they work great. They are easy to wire up and program. They will allow you to adjust the speed of the motor also so they are perfect speed controls. I get mine from automationdirect.com they are good people to work with and reasonable.

It works like a charm on difficult foil stamping jobs. I don’t feel the need to use it for printing at all. They are quite expensive new. I picked up mine, used for $200. It can be programmed with two micro switches so that it really slows down for impression ( dwell ) then speeds up to have enough suction to pick up the paper. All in one cycle with speed ramping. Nifty!
I have a new motor waiting to be installed, it was made for electronic speed controls. I think regular motors might get their bearings damaged by Eddy currents.

It took a while for my dog to get used to the squealing noise of the motor.

image: squareD-VSD17.jpg

squareD-VSD17.jpg

I just realised what your electrician friend suggested to you.

To run your three phase motor from a single phase source with the aid of the three phase electronic speed controller.

Well, I don’t have experience with that, I have three phase in my shop. But, I did check the Lenze AC Tech MC1000 manual, which is identical to my SquareD VSD17. It is a possible wiring option on this model but with some power de-rating. Plus, your three phase motor voltage rating would have to match your input voltage.

In this case I would rather buy a used single phase motor. My neighbour has a 1HP-110V single phase motor on his Heidi and happily die-cutting fridge magnets all day long. And my dog likes to go there, because his motor does not squeel. OK, she gets treats there too … lol.

BUT, you should explore your options and make your own decisions!

image: MC1000-wiring.jpg

MC1000-wiring.jpg