Hello from the west country

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

Hello everyone.

I'm just outside Bath. I haven't flashed up a lathe since my apprenticeship in the Navy in the late 80's but have been wanting to get back into it for years. I took the plunge last weekend and picked up a Colchester Chipmaster. I just need to work out how to connect it to a VFD and I will be back to making chips!! Cheers Colin

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

Welcome Colin. Roughly whereabouts outside Bath!! The Boss and I used to live in the married quarters at (the then) RAF Colerne, then at Radstock. This is a terrific site and masses of knowledge!!

cheers

Bill

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

Hi Bill.

I live in Bradford-on-Avon but my workshop is very close to radstock

It's in a very small hamlet near Peasdown call Foxcote.

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Welcome along Colin, as stated earlier a vast amount of knowledge on this site. I spent 50 years as a toolmaker and can still learn from folk on here. Do a search on this site re Chipmaster and VFD, my memory tells me it is not straight forward with the original motor but doable.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Welcome!

LOTS of experience on here in all sorts of fields.

You won't be the only Colchester user, by a long way. Search for posts about Colchesters, there should be several.

Just like me, not touching a machine tool after the Training School, until YEARS later, "Can you come in and show the nightshift" The partially sighted leading the blind, or maybe the other way round!

Howard

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Welcome to the forum

H

[wendy jacksonParticipant @wendyjackson]

Hi Colin, you may or may not be aware that a lot of VFD,s on the market do not have a proper earth build in. So please don’t purchase a cheap unit off eBay or Amazon. You can purchase a safe unit for around £200 with full back up. I have a Colchester bantan running off a VFD, the wiring at the VFD end is simple, but making sure you have your motor in the correct configuration is the most important bit. I live in Yeovil, so if you need help call out. Michael

[DurhambuilderParticipant @durhambuilder]

Welcome aboard, I have a Chipmaster in Frome so not too far away. Unfortunately I can’t help with your wiring, mine is run off of a phase converter.

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to be making good use of all your knowledge. I did have a nightmare with the electrics today. Not properly sorted but I managed to turn some steel. Not much but its a start.

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

Terry I would be super interested in you recommendation as I have done exactly what you said not to do (buy a cheap VFD)

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

I thought your name seemed familiar Colin, now I know where you are ! Welcome aboard shipmate ! I;m in N Norfolk. If you have a question, someone here will have an answer for you. Best wishes, Noel.

[wendy jacksonParticipant @wendyjackson]

Hi, RJW motors and inverters are my go to. The young woman as so much knowledge of the subject it’s a joy to take to her. She will sort out what is needed to suit you. And they give full back up.

[colin hamiltonParticipant @colinhamilton16803]

Noel- do I know you of old?

Terry – thanks for the recommendations

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