Harrison M300 Lathe

[Addley]

Does anyone have experience converting a 3-phase Harrison M300 lathe to run on single phase?

 

[55fairlane]

VFD like any other 3ph to single phase.

 

[Addley]

Will all of the controls and oil pump work correctly?

I have never made a conversion / used a VFD before and don’t want to purchase this lathe if it is too much hassle or won’t work correctly. Thanks

 

[WSnyder]

Simplest solution would be to run it off a rotary phase converter. Many times you can find a used one floating around. Looking at a schematic it looks like the pump is 3PH as well as the spindle motor. Controls are single phase off of two of the legs to a transformer so that shouldn't be a problem. VFD the spindle and ignore the pump or replace the pump or run another smaller VFD for the pump.

 

[cheek9075]

Run it on 3 phase. It doesn't cost much to do it. Then run VFD on 3 phase. I think it is worth the cost. I would do it. Cheaper than change single phase over to 3 phase.

 

[Addley]

Thanks WSnyder for the schematic! Seems like a reasonable approach. I did purchase the lathe. I’m at a Gordy Gritters class in Florida on chambering and decided I better get a lathe !

Cheek9075 … I am not sure I understand your answer. Wish I had three phase in my garage/shop, but I only have single phase (residential). Thanks for the reply.

 

[paperpuncher]

My .02 if you are going to add more 3 phase machines mill, grinders band saw ect I would get a rotary and power them all. If the lathe is the only 3 phase pc get a VFD. Don’t sweat the pump once you get everything set up your going to want a flush system anyway. Just get a single phase pump and power independently of the lathe control.

 

[Addley]

My .02 if you are going to add more 3 phase machines mill, grinders band saw ect I would get a rotary and power them all. If the lathe is the only 3 phase pc get a VFD. Don’t sweat the pump once you get everything set up your going to want a flush system anyway. Just get a single phase pump and power independently of the lathe control.

Thank you.

 

[butchlambert]

A M300 Harrison is a very fine gunnsmith lathe.

 

[55fairlane]

Will all of the controls and oil pump work correctly?

I have never made a conversion / used a VFD before and don’t want to purchase this lathe if it is too much hassle or won’t work correctly. Thanks

Does this lathe have a steady rest? Harrison steady rest are hard to come by....if memory serves me right

 

[Addley]

Does this lathe have a steady rest? Harrison steady rest are hard to come by....if memory serves me right

Yes

 

[Addley]

A M300 Harrison is a very fine gunnsmith lathe.

Thanks. I’m hoping it will be good.

 

[Schutzen2]

Does anyone have experience converting a 3-phase Harrison M300 lathe to run on single phase?

There's some information on a website called VFDs.com. It said a VFD may not play well with peripheral stuff like a contactor. I didn't want to spend money on a VFD and not have it work right so I went the rotary phase converter route.

 

[butchlambert]

I have 2 on Bridgeports and another on a lathe. I do have 2 rotaries also. One rotary can run multiple machines, but the VFD will do one motor at a time.

 

[WSnyder]

Thanks. I’m hoping it will be good.

An M300 would be my first pick for a gunsmith lathe. You'll find them in a bunch of notable gunsmiths shops. I searched and searched but never found a used one to my liking so I stopped. I already had a perfectly good functional gunsmith lathe so there was no urgency to get another. I also have a much larger secondary lathe so that also quashed the continued search. Maybe one day one will show up that I can't resist.

 

[spitfire_er]

Just get a rotary phase converter. I use to use VFD'sv but went through several machines before my current setup and got sick of re-wiring everything. A rotary takes the hassle out of 3 phase. VFD's are nice but only for one specific machine. I have two brand new ones sitting on my shelf, after I got the rotary I never touched them.

 

[Fuj]

I have a 11 hp Roto-Phase set up at my son's garage. A mill and two
lathes are run off it. Dumb ass me sold off the Harig grinder when I
retired and closed the shop. Looking for another, and it will plug right
in......Note about the rotary phase.....We had to relocate the drive to an
outside utility shed. The whine was a bit much as the day went on.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I have a 11 hp Roto-Phase set up at my son's garage. A mill and two
lathes are run off it. Dumb ass me sold off the Harig grinder when I
retired and closed the shop. Looking for another, and it will plug right
in......Note about the rotary phase.....We had to relocate the drive to an
outside utility shed. The whine was a bit much as the day went on.

Dee Dee on YT did the same thing with his rotary.

 

[butchlambert]

I have a 11 hp Roto-Phase set up at my son's garage. A mill and two
lathes are run off it. Dumb ass me sold off the Harig grinder when I
retired and closed the shop. Looking for another, and it will plug right
in......Note about the rotary phase.....We had to relocate the drive to an
outside utility shed. The whine was a bit much as the day went on.

Both of my rotaries and my compressor are outside under a little covered area.

 

[urbanrifleman]

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