Warco 250V Inverter Drive Lathe

[Ian WestlakeParticipant @ianwestlake17243]

[Ian WestlakeParticipant @ianwestlake17243]

I've searched extensively on here and found many threads on the non inverter 250V lathe, but not this one.

Is the inverter lathe worth the extra £300? I know inverter motors should produce more torque, but is it much of a difference? And the non inverter lathe now has an 1100W motor, so does that help with the low speed torque?

This is my first lathe, and I don't know what it will eventually be used for, however I have the money to buy either machine, I don't want a smaller machine (I have the space for this lathe), so it's really down to whether the inverter really is worth the money.

Thanks

Ian

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Yes

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

I would concur with the honourable gentleman too….but I would qualify my statement in that if the motor or controller on the WM250 failed after the warranty period, the repair isnt cheap….the vfd version is more robust, having a 3 ph motor, it is less likely to fail than its dc counter part…There are threads on the forum whereby owners have replaced the original setup with an inverter/3ph motor.

 

Edited By John Rudd on 17/03/2017 19:11:02

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

A 3 phase motor is practically bullet proof, if the inverter failed a new one will cost about £130 in today's money, a no brainer imho.

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Have owned a WM250V for about 18 months, having used DC variable speed based lathes in the past I can confidently say it was worth the bit extra for the inverter drive model, bags of torque, and good quality motor and inverter so no worries about it letting out the magic smoke if you work it a bit hard (which I do often)

[Ian WestlakeParticipant @ianwestlake17243]

Thanks all (and thanks John – I do like your straight talking approach )

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

In researching the best way to fit a variable speed drive on any machine I've never know anyone consider a DC option better than a vfd. . . . . . . Says it all really.

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