The problem I have encountered with a VFD on a Student lathe relates to the flat belt drive on my model. I suspect that this was a major reason for the change to multi-V belts. If you set the turn-on speed control too quick, the belt is likely to come off, and ditto if you try to stop suddenly. The stop works OK, but then you have to clamber about refitting the belt. So if anyone has a spare set of V pulleys, do get in touch…
Another effect to be aware of is that the flat belt runs on 'crowned' pulleys. (The rubbing surface is flat across in the middle of the pulley face, and gradually chamfered off at the edges.) This keeps the belt on, and with the original set up works OK, as the motor is always whizzing round. With a VFD, there is a temptation, when you want the work to turn very slowly (checking for concentricity with a dial gauge, perhaps) to just turn the speed knob down, as you don't need power, just movement. This can bring the belt off, as the amount of crowning needed to work properly (as I have now discovered) goes up, as the speed goes down. Not really a problem, once you know it might happen, as the gearbox is a pleasure to use. Clonk click every trip, as you might say.
Cheers, Tim
And a PS about the original braking lever. As originally wired, the brake lever (about level with your left trouser pocket) turns the power off when the brake is applied. I left this switch in use for the control-power in the VFD, so it still works as intended (but most of the rest of the complex switching and wiring was removed. Especially the sneaky switch in a right-hand rear drawer which was closed by a lock and only Sir had a key …).
Edited By Tim Stevens on 05/06/2023 18:16:21