Interact 4 Spindle Motor
To be honest, if it aint broke dont fix it!
The Interact 4 spindle motor would cost about $8,000 to replace and the KTK about $4000.
An equivilant AC motor would be looking close to $1800 and then you would need to pay someone for all the mechanical modifications too, not to mention a 5hp VFD.
On my machine the KTK is stuffed and I couldnt justify the $2000 repair bill. Instead I'm going for a solution which involves a 240 - 600v autotransformer, a 400v DC drive and a small variable transformer to tweak the field voltage. A local motor/drives specalist is supplying me with all the parts, diagrams and a brand new set of brushes for about $1600. The drive takes a 0-10v input for control and reversing will be carried out by separate contactors.
This is the cheapest way I could get the motor running with the same sort of degree of control as it had in the first place without breaking the bank; but seriously, if every thing works nicely now I'd leave it well alone!
Dom
http://www.ukrobotics.com/projects