Woodworking vertical bandsaw converted to metal cutting using a VFD and a 3 phase motor

Here’s is where I took a 14” Jet woodworking bandsaw and converted it to cut metal.
I removed the 1hp 1720 rpm single phase 120vac motor and replaced it with a 1/2hp 1140 rpm 3 phase 240vac motor. I installed a Variable Frequency Drive known as a VFD to control the motor speed. The goal was to have the motor run at 60Hz. In order to have the intended 150’ per minute blade speed, more mechanical speed reduction was needed. I used an elevator door operator motor and reduction sheave to do this. The fabrication was pretty straightforward. The drive and wiring was also pretty easy. The included instructions make programming, wiring, and use easy.
This was an easy project that just about any handy guy should be able to accomplish. 👍🏼
The VFD is readily available on Amazon for about $100. 3 phase motors can be found for a bargain if you keep your eyes peeled. I was fortunate to get mine from an old elevator door operator from a modernization job.

[@iounatta]

Sweet pulley speed reduction setup! Probably loads of torque there. I would watch the metal dust with that VFD. I ran a surface grinder with the VFD too close and it shorted and blew. Startled me because it was pretty loud. I relocated a new one in an enclosure with fans and filters about 8 feet away and was fine from then on. You can get or make an extension cable for the remote keypad to mount where it's easy to use.

[@vicguitar1]

Looks like you spent a lot of time and money ! I’m about to convert my 14” Bandsaw but I’m using a Treadmill DC Motor and controller which I got for free ! Vic Canada

[@z3k3y2011]

I have a 10 inch wood bandsaw im restoring to make a metal saw, thanks for the video!

[@Michael-tq5il]

Nice work on the conversion.

[@gregchamberlin61]

I want to build one just like that

[@awamumma1074]

smart bro.very good

[@freepatriot6313]

now that's cool

[@phillipchambers8487]

Very nice and smart Conversion! I just became a Subscriber today strictky due to your Precision Matthews videos. You have some nice Machines. You should seriously do a Shop Tour Video. Keep up the Great Work 👍

[@aquadslifefpveee5892]

Nice work my friend! Love the vfd... You should use that pretty saw to cut some time out of your day for us to go RIP some packs sometime 🤘

[@woodywoods5373]

How does it cut? does it bogg down under load,does the motor get hot, Why did you add a larger pulley if the vfd has variable speed?

[@tomsuica8731]

You did a massive reduction set up when you could have gone straight vfd on the motor and the old drive. Trying to figure out what happen.

[@randyshoquist7726]

I believe you can scale the readout to show fpm rather than Hz.

[@tomwyrick2824]

Very nice! But did something very similar but with a treadmill dc motor and a Big rock candy mountain (China) speed controller. Had a very limited budget (less than $100) all in including the treadmill! Works good but not as sweet as yours!

[@johnjohn-pt7pe]

great job, best I've seen

[@macdrew77]

elevator door motors are typically not rated for continuous duty, has that been a problem for you?

[@scottydntno]

ALL that and you didn't cut 1 piece of metal? LOL.

[@chrisrosenb]

Nice conversion. What VFD did you use?

[@dieselshadow]

It’s by LAPOND, model SVD-ES1.5B It’s a single phase input at 230vac rated at 1.5 Kw.

[@antigen4]

wait - why do you even NEED the gearing if you're using a VFD? torque? couldn't you avoid the gearing by just using a different motor ?

[@dieselshadow]

The answer is torque and remaining tunable. Keeping the motor near it’s rated RPM retains torque at peak and cooling. Even a inverter rated motor will overheat I’d ran really slow and asked to deliver lots of torque. You want that mechanical advantage of running faster. 👍🏼

[@ls1nissan]

@@dieselshadow couldn't you just put an external fan blowing on the motor to cool it off or will that not be enough?

[@chrisrenaud4141]

Why did you need to change size pulleys? shouldn't the VFD alone be enough?

[@dieselshadow]

Ideally you want the motor to turn the blade at the speed you need at 60hz so you don’t need the drive. Then the drive is used to tune or dial in the exact speed you want. If you just use a motor drive to slow the motor down, you may overheat the motor due to lack of cooling air and you may lose a considerable amount of torque. So the mechanical speed change is setting the machine up for better operation and a longer life. 👍🏼

[@simms142]

@@dieselshadow I thought this was only the case if you are using standard 3 phase motors, with inverter duty motors being designed for this. Dont get me wrong, I love this conversion i plan to do the same, but my plan is a 2hp 3 phase, inverter duty motor. I have heard to offset the low torque on low rpm vfd the motor needs to be upsized. Just want to pick your brain on this see if you know more. Thanks

[@dieselshadow]

So heres the deal. Mechanical advantage is one. You can spin an inverter rated motor down and not overheat it as bad as a normal motor. Some motors won’t like this. But as you slow it down, you lose torque and mechanical advantage. I wanted to use the VFD to tune the speed from rated RPM. This way I retain proper blade speed with the motor running at peak torque speeds. It won’t overheat doing this either. If you slow it down, you lose that torque and can overheat the motor if there’s not adequate enough air flow, regardless if it’s inverter rated or not. It’s worth your time to gear it properly so you can get the motor spinning near its nominal rated speed if you want to achieve an efficient machine that’s also powerful and long lasting. 🍻 Then the inverter can be used to slow it down or speed it up to fine tune for any particular job you may need the saw for. 👍🏼

[@chrisrenaud4141]

@@dieselshadowthanks for the info!\

[@reginaldhall6871]

Where did you get the larger pulley from?

[@dieselshadow]

I got them from Amazon. Be careful though, you need to know bore size, diameter, and belt size prior to ordering. There is a myriad of pulleys available out there. 👍🏼

[@davidbeckwith7598]

Is there enough torque at the slowest speed to cut steel? I want to do the same but maybe using a gear box

[@dieselshadow]

Yes, it does. But the slower you go, the blade gets more “grabby” rather than cut. Super slow isn’t your friend.

[@MarkSchuster-ym3iy]

Can a vfd be used on a 19” miter box to slow it down to a cold cut saw

[@dieselshadow]

Mark, if you are willing to modify the saw with a 3 phase motor and drive, then yes, it’s possible.

[@geoffanderson3357]

Hi I have a problem with my bandsaw as it is 3 phase 1/1.2 kw two speed could you give me some ideas on what vfd I would need I have a phase converter here but it is not working properly and the company wants a lot of money to look at it Before any repairs I’m just a hobbyist thinking of going your way to convert it any advice would be much appreciated thanks Geoff Newcastle upon Tyne U.K. 👍

[@dieselshadow]

Send me your email address, I’ll certainly help with what I can. If you post your email here, it’ll be public until I can remove it.

[@forsakenforlife]

Hey do you have a link to that pedestal bearing?

[@dieselshadow]

Go to page 130-131. You’ll find part numbers for a particular one you like. They’re all fairly similar and should be easy to find. www.gal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GAL-Catalog-Mini.pdf

[@willcullen8415]

Very nice job, I have planned to do the same to an older bandsaw I picked up some years ago. How slow can you run the motor until heat becomes an issue? I also have a small mill/drill I’m after adding x and y feeds to. By chance, do you recommend a particular size stepper motor for that application?

[@dieselshadow]

I’ve run it down reliably to 30hz with no issues. But the motor I have is setup for that anyway. An inverter rated motor will run slower and not heat up as fast as a standard motor will. They need the speed so the fan becomes effective. Sorry, I can’t really help with your mill/drill project. I haven’t gotten it or the automation side of machining just yet. 👍🏼

[@eyekandiart]

Could you just use a 1/2 hp 115v 1140rpm motor?

[@dieselshadow]

Eye, you absolutely could. I wouldn’t discourage you from doing so if your budget doesn’t allow. However the 3 phase motor and VFD allow for speed adjustments that are handy if you are cutting different materials. Some like the blade speed faster, others like it slower. But if you had the right single phase motor available, I would absolutely use it. 👍🏼

[@lrmodranoel]

No cutting?

[@TheOriginalAndysGarage]

You do realize they make a 3-speed kit on Amazon $129 that I bought and put into mine and it all still looks Factory and all of my factory covers are on with no expose pullys or belts, how much money did you waste doing all that

[@dieselshadow]

No, I do not. Why not place a link here for it?

[@TheOriginalAndysGarage]

@@dieselshadow I did post the link

[@dieselshadow]

All I see is your edited post. Now you’re saying I wasted my money. I have variable speed and it cost about the same as your kit (that I still don’t see a link for?). I also made covers for mine. But it’s cool there is a kit. Maybe that’s new? I haven’t seen it. Perhaps you could make a video and show us?

[@TheOriginalAndysGarage]

Check this out at Amazon.com Jet 708114/3SP-14 3-Speed Kit... www.amazon.com/dp/B0009H5RG6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@MarkSchuster-ym3iy]

What about heat?

[@dieselshadow]

What heat are you referring to?

[@MarkSchuster-ym3iy]

Where can I get parts

[@dieselshadow]

Mark, the parts I used are readily available from local suppliers and internet stores such as Amazon.

[@0ex0dus27]

Lol there's a kit they sell on amazon for this. This kinda seems like a lot of money on this when they sell a kit

[@dieselshadow]

How’s it a lot of money? I have about the same amount of dollars into this.