Today I tested out the THC via its Test Function. Couldn't get it to work at all, the LEDs for Torch Up, Down etc worked but the Z would initially just give a small movement then nothing. Tried all sorts of settings in Mach but still nothing. That is when I got the light bulb above my head, I have the MPG module for the CSMIO/IP-S and it was set to Z MPG. I switched it to the Off position and still nothing but then I switched to Y, moved it then switched back to Off and after that the THC testing worked fine. THC control must use Machs Jogging and with the MPG module setting Mach to MPG mode the THC commands don't work.
So that could be a potential problem, as long as I remember to switch to Off before the THC starts to issue commands then it will be fine but if I forget then it will not work.
To get round this I have had to wire a button on my hand held pendant as in the CSMIO instructions so that to get to MPG mode the button has to be pressed, without the button pressed it reverts to Jog mode. Having the button on a hand held pendant is a good thing really but as I normally don't have the pendant and just use the MPG on my panel then I normally don't utilise the button and instead wire it differently with diodes and have an Off position on the rotary switch for the odd occasion I want to jog via keyboard.
Ok so that problem solved I then tried to get my head round the THC buttons on the screen, took a bit of messing but I think I now understand how they work.
I set the speed to 100% and it works great, have seen mention of 50% for steppers and 90% for servos but I don't have a problem with 100% it seems. Video below of it moving 80mm with the 100% setting and using the MiniTHC test functions.
https://youtu.be/N5hRuZsIglcI also took a few pics of the breakaway torch holder for mc as my description probably didn't make much sense.
You can see the setscrews from both sides in the pics and also you can see a prox I have there that will be used to E-Stop Mach if the holder breaks contact.
Hood