HLV-H Buzzing sound

[bjinatj]

I have a 230 volt Hardinge HLV-H that was purchased in a distress sale situation. There was no one to get any information from. I received the lathe and a 45hp static converter that I am told was used to run this, a bridgeport and a cnc lathe. I have the rotary phase converter wired as well as the Harding lathe. Everything runs fine, but the lathe makes a loud buzzing sound as soon as the power button is applied on the lathe. The sound is coming from the lathe, not the RPC. It makes the sound even with the spindle is not running. It is an electrical buzzing sound and I am wondering if this is expected?

[Dyad1]

bjinatj, Try turning the brake switch to "BRAKE". The switch is on the control panel mounted above the headstock. The brake is held off when the machine is running by an electromagnet operated brake arm. When the switch is turned to "off" this actually turns on the magnet to hold the brake off so you can turn the spindle by hand. The brake is applied by spring. Because the motor noise is loud enough you cannot hear the buzz when the machine is running but it is there.