How to: Wire a Cheaper VFD for a 2x72 Belt Grinder Build

Lets wire up a cheaper VFD for a 2x72 Belt Grinder Build. Also I answer a lot of questions about the 3 Phase motor recommendation.





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vfd workshop knifemaking how to

[amjadmohmood]

This is the best VFD hook up video on YouTube, bar none. Concise and straight to the point!!

[d.comeaucustomknives]

Very good Brian. A couple of points of interest. Swap any two motor wires (W, V, U) to get the motor to run in the opposite direction. You can program the acceleration time to "ramp up" to target speed. I use 8 seconds so I can adjust the tracking if needed before the belt gets up to full speed. A lot of these low cost VFDs will display Hz or RPM. You will have to program the number of motor poles, typically 2 or 4. Reading the manual, even if partly in Cantonese, can be pretty helpful. Of course, keep it cool and away from the metal dust. I have a couple of these and a KBAC-27D. I am happy to say they are all working good. Knock on wood. Cheers!

[byronmcwilliams]

Brian, you always give great stuff for us novices to learn by. Thanks man! I'm planning on using the cheaper vfd for my build. I'm pumped and will keep you posted!

[Austinificationify]

Was hesitant to make that upgrade from my treadmill dc motor/controller to the kbac/ironhorse setup but its made a world of difference! Thanks for the tips!

I ran into an issue where the attached mounting bracket on the ironhorse motor relative to my dc motor caused the motor to protrude about two inches further out, throwing my whole setup out of alignment. Had to do some creative modifications to my grinder motor mount to accommodate the new motor and have it align with the platen and tracking wheel.

[vincentgolden]

Good to know this vfd is reliable for the revolution. Im very excited my steel is almost here so i can start my build. Thankyou for sharing takecare and keep safe.

[offcenterforge]

I've needed this for like 2 years lol. Another knife maker turned me on to this, I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this. Motor and vfd is ordered, no more trying to grind at full speed haha.

[Stillpoint]

I hooked my grinder up to this VFD, and so far it's a success! I'm going to make an enclosure out of some scrap 16g steel, and an old electrical panel. I'll post the final product on IG. Can't wait for the belts from Brodbeck to arrive so I can really get this beast dialed in

[tedmattingly]

Brian, that's pretty much the same VFD I just put on my Bridgeport Mill. It's been running for a couple weeks now and working great. I used a plastic remote box and a couple magnets so I can put the little control pad wherever I want.

I hate the plastic collars on the crimp connector too. I solder mine after crimping too. I order the terminals without the plastic.

[ForgeandFairway]

Getting this vfd delivered tomorrow and motor on Monday! Can't wait to get it installed, thanks for the awesome video!!

[adamg]

Looks like the wires to the motor would be:
Black: T3, T9
White: T1, T7
Red: T2, T8
Bound together: T4, T5, and T6
This is to help others that are also color blind. I had a very hard time telling the green (ground) and 'red' wires apart.

[TheTradesmanChannel]

Hey buddy, same exact vfd I used for mine. They are actually really user friendly. Don't know if you know this or not but you were mentioned as an up and coming channel by a decent podcast. Cool to see. Have a good one.

[douglasbattjes]

That VFD you recommend isn't available any more, you have another you recommend ? Great video on the wiring, boy your hands are fast .

[toddharshbarger]

This is great! I think its probably a very good substitute for a shopsmith powerPro! The later is actually a switched reluctance - one sep above the ac induction you are doing but even another step above both would to rebuild the rotor and add permanent magnets to achieve the MOST efficient IPMSynRM!

[emagee]

It's on my list of projects to build. Thanks for the easy to follow tutorial.

[jdshear]

Just got my Ironhorse motor and VFD this week...looking forward to getting it wired up next week!

[acet]

Thumbs up, if I ever want to get one of those 2x72 I will be calling you.

[RTOHIO]

You have barely scratched the surface of the Chinese VFDs which are very similar but have a myriad of programmable parameters to allow starting at a low frequency for a short time (you select the time) after which the unit can switch to a second higher frequency or directly to the maximum run frequency. The parameters can be altered to select how long each startup frequency stays in seconds before the next frequency kicks in. The maximum frequency can be significantly higher than standard American 60 cycles/second. Be sure your motor can handle the higher frequency. Many of he units have a built in Braking Resister to allow you to select a braking time. In addition they almost all have the ability to add a emergency stop switch, run, reverse, and other things. The little control panel buttons are very small to find in an emergency stop scenario. There are over 100 parameters and the manuals are written by people speaking english as a second language, although very good, they refer to parameters that are not always what we would call them. I have used these VFDs for 5 years now running my Bridgeport and 2 x 72 grinder (by a design that I will replace with your design). I have had only one fail but support from China is not good. I have one coming that will support a 30 meter cable (included) so I can mount the unit in the nearest clean environment, far away from metal dust. My Bridgeport VFD supports a 6 meter cable and I mounted the box about 10 feet above the floor, the control panel below my DRO. Has been successful for three years and counting.

[marioflores]

Already have your blueprints now this is the next step. Thanks

[bluecollarparadisetonywarf]

Hey bro got my VFD a couple days ago so watched this video just to get familiar with the process of installation I’ll order motor as soon as they are available the only thing about this whole build I was apprehensive about was the electrical side but now I’m fully confident this is gonna be an awesome experience. YOU ARE THE MAN can’t thank you enough

[kenmeuse]

I bought it through your link. Glad it helped you.