Can you use a VFD to power a VFD?

[flhr97]

I know this sounds like a strange question, but here is my problem. I just bought a piece of equipment out of a factory to make a cnc router out of. It has all 3 axis and doesn't need much other than adding the router to the Z axis.

However the machine is setup for 230v 3p. The servo motors are 200v and the servo drivers are all 200v. http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...orque/0c_1.jpg
That's a picture of the servo driver ID label.

I've worked with VFD's for years and I realize their output is not technically AC power, but I've never thought about trying to power one with the output of another one. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm not really sure what would happen.

I could go rotary converter but I have access to a very cheap VFD that has enough oomph to power everything if it will work.

[flhr97]

I answered my own question today by calling Omron. FYI, according to them you can run your household 208 lines to two of the inputs on their drives and jump either of the two to the 3rd input on the drive.

He said this will satisfy the voltage checks in the drive and allow it and the motor to function, you will just lose 1/3 the power of the motor.

[mactec54]

Hi fhr97

Your answer you have is correct your household power should be more than the 208 if you check 230/245 unless you are at the end of the line somewere

The other question you had was could you run a VFD to power your servo drives the answer is no the servo drives need AC power input

You will only need to use 2 of the connections to put your input power in & may not need to jumper to the #3 try it first

The other problem that you may have is how are you going to control your servo drives
as you most likly will need +/- 10v output from your control to run the drives some will take step/dir

Wiring the AC is only a small part of the wiring of these drives you will also need a 24v DC supply to power the brain of the drive to make it run need more photos to give you more information

[flhr97]

The interface from the PC the Omron drives is the part I'm trying to figure out now. I have dc power supplies in the cabinet so the 24v is not a problem. Here's the inside of the cabinet. http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...que/2edd_3.jpg

I'm guessing I'm going to have to make some sort of breakout board to wire between the drives and the computer's printer port. That is going to take some head scratching and some more phone calls to Omron tech support I think.

Thanks much.

[mactec54]

Hi fhr97

That looks like it is almost good to go you don't & won't be connecting to the drives in this case the plugs that come out of the drives go to another control box this is were you will have to get your computer connected to