Myford ML7 3 Phase VFD Inverter Set-Up & Working 

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Steve it is amazing what you have accomplished with a machine that was manufactured in 1949!

As an aspiring machinist. You pave the way for me

the 3 phases motor run really smooth. Now you can cut a thread with the motor. I bought the same VFD for my 3 hp lathe and I'm happy. I wired an external panel because the electric cabinet is in the body of the machine. Nice video & installation Pierre

Hi Steve, I watch your channel and have made improvements to my small lathe with the tooling and mods you have done in your shop. I have improved my efficiency with my lathe, so thank you for sharing.

I ordered the same motor ( as in your video) that arrived a few days ago. And the VFD arrived today. Now waiting for the pulley and belts. And then I’m in business. I’m a absolute newbie with a lot to learn. I’m looking forward to learning new skills.

Another great couple of videos showing everything we need to know about fitting a VFD.

hello ,my name is Tony pike in Asheville N C USA. I believe I have seen all your videos and I sure do enjoy watching, even my wife likes the way you talk! You always seam to come up with great ideas and ways of making things. Keep up the wonderful work.

Been watching your videos for awhile now, and learned a lot. I don’t have a lathe yet, but after watching your videos I think I’ll be purchasing one soon. Thanks, and keep up with your videos.

absolutely wonderful, I am in the process of a change over my self, mine is an old 1954 southbend (from a Tech School) lathe very similar to yours that I purchased from an old machinist teacher ( now passed away ) . it is old worn but i love it

That is one quiet lathe. Nice work.

Good video Steve!

great video Steve,very nice explanation,of how it all comes together,thank you for sharing.

Nice work Steve. Only other thing I think I'd do is to add a bimetallic switch on the VFD heat sinc in line with the fans so they only cick in at about 50 degrees C. For your setup it would probably only cick in during this high extreme weather. Don't think you can do it in the software or you would have done so already. Regarding the high frequency, you're probably like me, getting on! but get a kid in it'll drive them mad. You can tune it higher though I believe.

Great job Steve brought the Myford bang up to date. I've got everything to do my Littlejohn but getting round to doing it is another thing. I have a one HP motor, I thought it may lack torque but there's no problem with yours so happy days, Cheers mate.

Great video Steve, VFD on my Drummond is looking a certainty now.

Another nice job Steve , Can't wait to convert my Grizzly .

Very nice set-up, Steve. The thing with all of these VFD's is, there seems to be something missing. The wires are only held on be the screw terminals. It seems like they should be in a box with cable clamps of some sort, so that the wires can't accidentally, be pulled out from the terminal strip.

Hi Steve: As an addition to all the obvious advantages of running a 3PH motor controlled by a VFD, I noticed that your Myford runs far quieter than before for some reason. I was surprised that originally, made quite a racket for a belt driven lathe, no more now. You also have almost 3HP at your disposal. Congratulations.

Nice job Steve. Good inspiration.

that is a sweet set up Steve ! AWESOME ..

my ml7r is going to have all these mods cheers

Hi Steve, Just a quick comment regarding the possible overheating of your motor due to slow speed running reducing your motor fan cooling ability. I am a retired electrician and during my working life I have had to deal with this problem arising on various vfd systems. By far the best solution after ensuring your vid is properly tuned to its motor is to fit a secondary forced air fan to the fan end of the motor.This fan is then switched on and off as required by thermistor temp control mounted on the motor. I have this system is an industry standard way of ensuring correct motor temperature during low speed running. The motor can still provide adequate cooling at higher running speeds without using the secondary fan because it sucks its air in past the secondary fan blades. Hope this is of help to you if you find it necessary in the future. Barry V Western Australia.

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You should run a separate fan that is not influenced by the motor because if you run a thread any time this motor could over heat. I would fan cool or recirculate water to keep you motor cool at low RPM just a suggestion. I did notice the temp went up 50 c in the moments you ran it. Just a suggestion . Love your videos!

Thanks, Steve. Great installation and handbook, but where is the footage of you making big fat blue chips? Part of the reason for motor changes is more power! :)

Nice job.

Hi steve, Found out why. P06 was on default 100hz operating speed changed to 45hz and now top operating speed 1016. Stops me accidentally going beyond. Anyway thanks again and looking forward to remote if you get time.

how do you put up with the hi pitched sound. it will drive me mad

Hi Steve. It runs very nicely. I was interested to see/hear if the inverter squeals. Some setups on YT with the same BG unit are very noisy, but yours seems dead quiet. Good job. Cheers Rob

I hope someone can help. Great video. I’ve purchased the same AT1 model. I’ve connected single phase 230v and UVW wires to motor, having rewired fro star to delta a connection. When I apply power to unit there is no response, no indication on display. I’ve checked and confirmed 230 v at the L-N terminals. I can’t see any external reset buttons etc. I’m presuming I don’t need to make any connections at the 12 point small terminal strip. Maybe I just have a dud unit. Has anyone any advice?

This video was really helpfull to me. I am trying to build my own low budget lathe, with minium experience on lathes or turning. Videos like these where you get to see quality old lathes a bit closer is such a good inspiration. That myford ML7 is in my opinion one of the most beutiful lathes ever built, seems to have the perfect size for a hobbyist aswell. I cant afford one at the moment, (2,5 years left in university with student economy ) But would be intresting to know anyways, roughly how much a myford ml7 in good condition would go for? If steve or any other machinist here knows? Would also be nice to know the shipping cost for a lathe of this size betwen countries in europe if somone has experience of that aswell?

three months ago i replaced the motor on my 1953 ML7 after the shaft inexplicably snapped inside the motor just past the first bearing . With the motor i also replaced the forward reverse drum switch and added an E stop button. Then i saw your videos on the VFD system . Now im depressed . Could have done the same to mine as you have done to yours . It would have been a much better system. maybe i will see about a conversion to VFD a bit later next year . Looks like it may be time to upgrade your shed next to a bigger one. Must be getting a bit crowded.

I like the setup Steve. I have just ordered the inverter and the motor, identical to yours on your recommendation. I would like the tachometer as well. Please will you send me the link.

in what numbers of parameters should I enter how many Kw and how many amperes are the motor? My manual does not have this, and neither is the P25 instruction

Hi Steve, I realise this is a few years old now but did you ever connect up an emergency stop? I have the same VFD and the resistive braking on the emergency stop has to be seen to be believed. I have a problem with mine at the moment that the suppliers are looking into (the firmware has missed out the programming for ES and reverese jog) but I'm hoping that will be resolved. These are great little VFDs. Thanks for the video. Will

Thanks for the video, can the lath go as slow as 1RPM?

nice video, just a bit worried that you are running over the stated top speed for the ml7, will it be ok?

All of the 220/240v people are too lucky with these sorts of things. Heck, I can't even find a decent (mini) Chinese lathe for under 2k.

Hi steve just finished doing exactly as you on ml7 same vfd same 67dia pulley same tec motor happy, BUT i am getting top speed 1500 ??. Any idea's why. (Never use at this).

Steve, Excellent job! I'm contemplating changing my lathe and would like to know the details of your motor - where did you get it from and how much did it cost?

Hi STEVE I noticed that the display on the inverter was showing HTZ can you programme it to display RPM john

Hi Steve Did you plug your inverter into a nominal 220 plug socket or hardwire it to the mains Lorne

Hey Steve. Good one! Don't you find that those link belts make your lathe have a rumbling sound? I tried one on my Craftsman 10F lathe and I was disappointed to find out that the new link-belt that I had used made the lathe noisier. When I put a V-belt back on it instead it quieted down a lot. (no more rumbling). It seems like every link in the link-belt makes a small noise as it hits the pulley. I used a link-belt from Harbor Freight. I ended up swapping the link-belt from the lathe with the v-belt on my drill press which doesn't get hours of continuous use like the lathe does so I can deal with the added noise on that.

Very nice, Steve...!! I found 3 phase BLDC , 500W motor from scrap yard. Can I use this type of controller with my motor...?

Hi, found the belt belt in EBAY. How long the belt you bought?

very nice mod! can it go higher than 60hz to get biger rpm range?

Is damp in the shed a concern for the VFD?

does the torque affected when running low speed?

did you fit an external stat /stop switch from the VFD after?

Steve - How smooth are the link belt compared to a regular v-belt?

That motor temperature seems high.

Hi Steve, having now watched both your videos on VFD for the lathe I have a question. Would it be feasible to wire in an auxiliary micro switch and mount it on the lathe ways to stop the chuck for automated screw cutting? Howard

Your Myford lathe is too pretty to use.

Steve, have you an e mail address id like to send you some pictures