I've made a few rotary converters, and bought a ready made one.

I also just did some more research on converters, and decided that the VFD might be good for a single motor. But if you have more than one tool you need more VFD's. You also have to have the VFD hard wired to the motor, and the length of that wire needs to be short. Switches have to be on the VFD side, not the motor side.

I'd recommend a rotary converter for your application, even a homemade one would be great. Size it at least the same as the largest motor you would run, then go bigger if you would ever have more than double that HP on at once.

I've got a 15HP rotary converter running my lathe right now, and will run my whole shop on it when I move in a few months.

When I'm ready to upgrade I'll get one of these "digital" converters. All I read about them is great, and from talking to the folks they seem very helpful and professional. A friend of mine also has one and is very pleased with it. http://www.phaseperfect.com/

Grigg

•1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
•1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
•1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
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"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-