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need Powermatic advice

Joined
Feb 9, 2023
Messages
1
Likes
0
Location
Coeburn, VA
My powermatic 3520A went down. Powermatic`s opinion is probably the inverter and its specific program for my model went bad. So I said "send me a $900 new one.
I was warned that seeking it elsewhere might have wrong or no programming. I have waited months now and need to wait more, apparently it is on a slow boat from China
Has anyone else had a similar problem and experience?
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,272
Likes
1,054
Location
Nebraska
You could purchase a cheap China VFD rated for your motor on your lathe and wire it up to run until you get the factory unit.
Just make sure you draw out a wiring diagram for how the factory has it wired right now. You can take some photos of the
wiring or take a video of de-terming all of the wiring to remove the old VFD to make it easier when rewiring later on.
 
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
1,972
Likes
1,279
Location
Bozeman, MT
Many of us have purchased VFDs and installed them on Powermatics. VFDs have become basically like toasters. A $200 VFD in today's world is better than the VFD that came with your Powermatic. They are not quite plug and play, but the wiring is pretty straightforward and the programming has been done before by others. There are resources on this forum to help.
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2023
Messages
21
Likes
8
Location
Indianapolis IN
I am going through the same problem right now, replacing my VFD. I did find a replacement on eBay and when I last looked they were still available. same model Number as my original. Programming it has not been easy but I think I might have it sort of. it now will turn on occasionally but I think my power switch is faulty (it's no longer available either). I'm beginning ti think I might just find me a togge switch somewhere and put it in instead of the push pull. I am posting a link to the VFD I got.
 
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
1,972
Likes
1,279
Location
Bozeman, MT
Powermatic on-off buttons are an ordinary switch, readily available at little cost from suppliers such as McMaster-Carr, Grainger, or even Amazon.
 
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
102
Likes
101
Location
Traverse City, MI
Powermatic on-off buttons are an ordinary switch, readily available at little cost from suppliers such as McMaster-Carr, Grainger, or even Amazon.

Or just use a couple light switches for just a couple bucks.

The generic VFD I picked up on Amazon was pretty easy to wire up and program. It's been running great for 5 years and if it died tomorrow, it owes me nothing. For just $124, I'd buy the same one again.

 
Joined
May 8, 2019
Messages
24
Likes
10
Location
Buffalo, WY
A few months back, I bought a 3520B from a gentleman who got frustrated with trying to fix it. He bought a new, $900 VFD from Powermatic, and even had their service techs install it. Never got it to work properly. Once I got it home, I figured out that it wasn't programmed correctly...directly from Delta, through Powermatic. I got it mostly working, except for the braking. I think the VFD is actually faulty. I'm probably going to buy a new one and start from scratch. So, getting one from Powermatic is no guarantee that it's going to work.
 
Joined
Jul 19, 2018
Messages
1,393
Likes
1,488
Location
Ponsford, MN
Joined
Jul 19, 2018
Messages
1,393
Likes
1,488
Location
Ponsford, MN
I have used Automation Direct in the past and highly recommend them as they backup all of the products they sell and still give you a low price point.
If you give them the model number of the machine they may be able to supply a direct replacement of the defective part.
Also note that they are an excellent source for replacement VFDs that have built in parameter setting capability.
 
Joined
Oct 27, 2017
Messages
14
Likes
5
Location
Tulsa, OK
I bought a 3520-C when they first came out. About 6 months ago, the "on" switch became very iffy, only starting every 4th or 5th attempt. I called Powermatic, and they sent me a replacement switch free of charge. I have had no problems since the switch was replaced.
 
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