New workshop, new (old) machine.

[Jhutch]

I just bought a Shoda NC Router off ebay.... the punchline is that I live 7,500 miles away from the place in Kansas where I plan to set up my shop (I'm in Saudi Arabia). I've not put my hands on it yet, but I've seen some photos.

Luckily, I have family back home that will handle the logistics of moving the 5 ton machine, and hooking it up. They'll also be there to operate the machine and assemble the things I dream up while I'm out here in the desert. I am very excited.

Classic problem... the machine is 3 phase, and I plan to install it in a 1 phase location. I've spent the last couple of days reading about the various ways to "make a phase", and I've concluded that I like VFDs (I'm a mechanical engineer with some limited power and controls experience, btw).

There is a 5.5kW vacuum pump that I'll put on a dedicated VFD for soft start and braking, and all will be fine there. Same goes for other independent shop loads - dust collector, air compressor, jointer, etc. They can each have their own VFD, or share (with the VFD only as a phase maker).

For the next bit, it's worth noting that the controls are Fanuc 6M

The servo motors are DC, and I'm quite certain that the whole shooting match, controllers, amplifiers, servos, etc are fed off a 120V leg of the expected 208V 3ph.

There are 3 (6.7HP) spindles and a 5HP saw. I don't have a wiring diagram, but I'm convinced that if I do it right, I can put in a VFD sized for a single spindle, interface that VFD with the controls, and use the VFD as a VFD instead of just as a phase maker.

So, the question is... What do I need to do to control my spindle motors using a single VFD?