watswood
04-10-2006, 12:06 AM
A few weeks ago I started experimenting with parameter 08-15(automatic energy saving)in the Delta VFD. When set to 01 it monitors your output power and when it senses no-load or near no-load power (for approx. 30 secs.)it kicks in and reduces the ouput voltage, thus lowering power consumption by about 30% and in turn lowering spindle temp. My last project involved pocketing hardwoods with a 1/2" cutter. Each board had 8 min. of heavy ruff cutting followed by 4 min. of light cleanup passes. I monitored the output current on the vfd front panel and noticed that 30 secs. into the cleanup stage the current droped from 3.7 amps to 2.4 amps and stayed there throughout the entire cleanup stage. As soon as it hit the next board for ruff cut it instanly kicked up to full power.
As for the temperature. I ran the above mentioned for an hour with 08-15 disabled, let the spindle cool down a bit, then ran the same thing with 08-15 enabled and noticed approximately a 10 deg.F reduction in spindle temp.
I also tried a project that invloved a number of 1/4" holes and it kicked in during the entire hole drilling process.
For those of you who do nothing but heaving cutting all day long, this will do nothing for you as it will never kick in. For those of you like me who do a wide range of work including small diameter bit work such as intricate and long 3d files at higher rpm, inlay work, etc., this would most definately be worth checking out. Even if it can save any power, it's worth trying. Just monitor your output current on the vfd front panel to see if it kicks in or not.
As for the temperature. I ran the above mentioned for an hour with 08-15 disabled, let the spindle cool down a bit, then ran the same thing with 08-15 enabled and noticed approximately a 10 deg.F reduction in spindle temp.
I also tried a project that invloved a number of 1/4" holes and it kicked in during the entire hole drilling process.
For those of you who do nothing but heaving cutting all day long, this will do nothing for you as it will never kick in. For those of you like me who do a wide range of work including small diameter bit work such as intricate and long 3d files at higher rpm, inlay work, etc., this would most definately be worth checking out. Even if it can save any power, it's worth trying. Just monitor your output current on the vfd front panel to see if it kicks in or not.