Installing a Tach on Your Metal Lathe like this PM 1440TL

[@kai2pretty-15]

Great quick video and plenty of info. Thanks for taking the time to clear things up. Stay safe!

[@BladesIIB]

Thanks, glad it helped. All the best with your set up!

[@kai2pretty-15]

Sorry I just seen the comments on the vfd I'll be looking forward to seeing it also. Thanks

[@BobGarrett66]

Thanks for the great info about the tach. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to do a video showing some of the details for installing/wiring/setting up the Hitachi VFD? I’m considering the little brother to your lathe (1340GT) and imagine a similar VFD setup would work. I know almost nothing about electrical wiring in general and would certainly appreciate any help.

[@BladesIIB]

Bob, I am not a certified electrician so I am a little hesitant to post a video on the full VFD wiring. However, look me up on The Hobby Machinist (BladesIIB) and send me a PM and I am happy to connect one off and share all I know. I had great support from another HM member who walked me through the set up and I am happy to pay that forward. I also knew nothing about VFD’s or wiring and 2 months later had the whole thing built and ready before the lathe arrived. Another 72hours or so after the lathe arrived and I had it all set up and running. My Delivery, Clean up and VFD Set up video has a little info (starting at 22 minutes) and if we can connect I am happy to share more.

[@BobGarrett66]

@@BladesIIB Thank you for the offer to look you up on Hobby Machinist. Very much appreciated! Right now the 1340GT is on back order. Matter of fact they just pushed it back to April. I’ll reach out soon and hopefully can convince myself that I’d be able to pull off a setup like yours. Yours turned out looking really nice. I actually watched the delivery and setup video of you lathe before tuning into this one.

[@BladesIIB]

@@BobGarrett66 I will look for your message. Now is a good time to start. Formulating my plan and sourcing all the parts took me a good 6 weeks. Putting the enclosure together before lathe arrival only took a couple of days. If you have ever wired an outlet in your home or a new light switch, maybe a car stereo and a little soldering experience then good chance you can tackle this.

[@BladesIIB]

@@BobGarrett66 I thought about it and even though I am not an electrician, I think I can still put out a video on the principle of using a VFD to use single phase power to run a 3 phase lathe. Every lathe is wired a little different and every VFD is a little different but a lot of the concept is the same and that was the steep learning curve for me. Happy to try and lessen that for someone else. Still contact me. Also stay tuned for a VFD video. Thanks for the nudge.

[@BobGarrett66]

@@BladesIIB That sounds great! I’ll sub to the channel and look for the video. I’ll probably still PM you on The Hobby Machinist as I figure this out. I’ve actually wired the electric in two shops I’ve owned so hopefully I can get up to speed with a VFD. Certainly appreciate your offer to share your experience and knowledge.

[@timyoung3696]

Cool stuff, Thanks!

[@BladesIIB]

Tim, thank, glad you liked it!

[@6milesup]

Nice! I too have an LED light ring around my mill spindle. Heck, maybe you stole my idea from over at H-M! LOL. Actually, steal away. Nice job and nice looking shop. BTW, I am one more mile up over there on H-M ;)

[@BladesIIB]

Thanks 6milesup, I definitely stole the light ring from someone, don’t recall where. Has been a great addition. I will keep an eye out for you on H-M. Appreciate the feedback on the video and my shop.

[@kai2pretty-15]

Hey there how's it going? So I have a quick question?. Did you install your vfd? And if so did you run a separate control knob for the verible speed and how? Hope that's not to much.. Lol

[@BladesIIB]

Stivi, working on the video now. To answer your question yes I added the Potentiometer for the variable speed knob. The wires from it go directly back to the VFD and plug in there. Should make more sense in the video. Working on it now and should get it out by the weekend.

[@kai2pretty-15]

@@BladesIIB sounds good. Yeah on mine it's a 220v single phase. I just ordered my vfd so I guess I'll have to compare and see how close or far off everything is. Hopefully close! 👍

[@BladesIIB]

@@kai2pretty-15 VFD Video is live!