Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: emily on June 08, 2016, 12:37:17 PM
-
I am very new to CNC and trying to learn how to use mach software to run my plasma table. I have been able to cut parts after some trial and error, lots of reading and tutorials.
For some reason, my torch is moving off it's path and sparking about 2 inches off the table when it goes from cutting one part to the next. It cuts the first piece fine and then moves to it's next position in the cut sequence, then it raises about 2 inches and tries to spark. Sometimes it does not move to the next part in the cut sequence but goes way off course and tries to spark several inches off the table. I have all new tip, nozzle, cap etc. so that's not the problem.
I feel like it's something simple but I don't now what a lot of the controls in mach 3 actually do or mean. I have been reading and watching tutorials but just can't figure it out. I need to get it running. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-
Going to need more information - do you have a torch height control? is it active? does it work without it?
what table, what plasma?
-
As far I know the THC button is off(LED is off)
I have been able to run the table with it off.
It is a machitech 300 and Hypertherm Powermax 1650
I'm not really sure how to use the THC function. It seems like when I have it on, it doesn't work. torch drives right in to the plate if there are uneven surfaces. Ohmic sensing cap does not seem to be working. Please pardon my ignorance, this is all brand new to me.
-
Start from the beginning, you should be able to turn theca off and make good cuts, maybe only short 100-150mm if the plate is at all warped or not flat.
do you have the torch doing initial height sensing (IHS) at the start of each cut - it should move down, ohmic should would touch the plate, torch should stop moving, it should then lift to pierce height (as per book for material/consumables/power) then it should pierce and start cutting.
if the ohmic is not working i would fix that first as you really do need good IHS and pierce height or you will not succeed much further.
-
emily, can you upload your profile (the *.XML file to have a look at) If you start Mach3, and look in the lower right hand corner of the screenset t should say somethng like profile: "plasma", you will need to rename it to something unique so it will upload like emily.xml
can you also post a section of your gcode to have a look at.... you can cut most of the first part and the second part out and just upload the bit where it changes from one part to the next.
I suspect that the THC may not be set up.... and the ohmic cap may not be assigned a pin.... but these are just guesses .... what torch height controller are you using?
I also suspect that your post processor is not generating the right motion...
i.e at the end of the cut (M05), it is going to the safe hight between moves (G00 Z-2 )
then it is maybe not touching off on the metal (G31 Z-5 F30) or G28.1 [The "Z" and "F" numbers are just a guess of something that will work]
Wth G31 it will need to zero the Z axis (with G92 Z0 or Z-0.03 say at a guess) [the number all depends on your switch offset, my ohmic probe has about 0.1mm clearance (Z-0.004)]
-
Thanks for the replies.
The torch seems to be doing initial ihs at the start of the first cut. When it moves to the second pierce it does not do ihs, it lifts from the table about 2 inches and tries to spark.
I do not now how to set up the THC, assign a pin to the ohmic cap and I'm not sure what thc I'm using.
Basically, I bought the unit from a shop where it was being used on a daily basis. I kept everything set up the way it was when I bought it. I was able to cut various pieces but something changed and I don't know how or why.
My profile is huge, won't let me upload to the forum. Is there a section that I should copy and paste?
GCode-
M05 M15
G40
G00 X0.875 Y1.
G41
M03
G04 p0.5
G03 X0.0625 Y-0.0625 I0.0625 J-0. F30.
G03 I-0. J0.125
G03 X0.0625 Y0.0625 I-0. J0.0625
M05 M15
G40
G00 X0.875 Y-1.
G41
M03
G04 p0.5
G03 X0.0625 Y-0.0625 I0.0625 J-0. F30.
G03 I-0. J0.125
G03 X0.0625 Y0.0625 I-0. J0.0625
M05 M15
G40
G00 X-1.125 Y-1.
-
emily, you only need to upload the "XML" file which is located in the Mach3 root folder (C:\Mach3\******************.xml)
-
Can you open the "M15" code file and upload its contents.
go into C:\Mach3\macros\..... choose the folder that matches our profile name.... then open the M15.m1s file
you can open it with notepad and post its contents.
At the moment you are using G40 & G41 for cutter compensation, I have not used this for plasma as my software that generates the gcode allows for the plasma kerf (sheetcam) ..... what software are you using.
Can you also post the M3 file contents too.... as the M15 is probably just moving the torch to the safe height.... and the M3 once the torch moves to the next X and Y location is carrying out the touch off sequence.
A photo of you torch height controller may help.
-
.... hmmmm G41 should be followed by a D number .... without a D********* number its doing nothing....
and can be ignored
like I said I've never used G41/G42 of G40 before.
-
here is an M3 to give you an idea of what it should sort of look like (many ways to skin a cat!)
Option Explicit
'Screenset variables
Dim PierceHEIGHT
Dim FeedHEIGHT
Dim PierceDELAY
Dim FeedR
PierceHEIGHT = 1.5
FeedHEIGHT = 3.5
PierceDELAY = 0.3
FeedR = 3000 / 60
If (Not IsLoading) Then
Code "G31 Z-100"
While IsMoving()
Wend
Code "G92 Z-1"
Code "G0 Z"&PierceHEIGHT
While IsMoving()
Wend
DoSpinCW()
Code "G4 P" & PierceDELAY
While IsMoving()
Wend
Code "G0 Z"&FeedHEIGHT
SetFeedRate FeedR
End If
-
Here is the M3 file-
Sub main()
Dim Xaxis As Double 'coordonnées actuelles
Dim Yaxis As Double
Dim X_1axis As Double 'coordonnées passées
Dim Y_1axis As Double
Dim DeltaX As Double
Dim DeltaY As Double
Dim XYLimit As double 'limit defini par l'opérateur.
'***************************************************************************
'Début de programme
'***************************************************************************
If getuserled(1001) = 0 Then 'Vérification mode TRIAL
GoTo Trial_no 'Pas en mode TRIAL
Else
GoTo Trial_yes 'en mode TRIAL
End If
Trial_no: 'lorsque pas en mode TRIAL effectue la routine de plate sensing
If getuserled(1002) = 0 Then 'Vérification mode PSMODE
GoTo sortie 'Pas en mode PSMODE
'en mode PSMODE
End If
'***************************************************************************
'Routine qui fait le calcul pour vérifier si la torche dépasse la zone
'définie à ne pas faire de plate sensing
'***************************************************************************
X_1axis = getvar(1001) 'Récupération des variables X,Y mémorisées lors du plate sensing
Y_1axis = getvar(1002)
Xaxis = Getoemdro(800) 'Récupération de la valeur actuelle de X
Yaxis = Getoemdro(801) 'Récupération de la valeur actuelle de Y
XYLimit = Getoemdro(1003) 'Récupération de la valeur de la limit
DeltaX = Xaxis - X_1axis
DeltaY = Yaxis - Y_1axis
'MsgBox (deltax)
'MsgBox (deltay)
'MsgBox (xylimit)
If getuserled(1003) Then
If Abs(DeltaX) > XYLimit Then
setuserled(1003,0)
GoTo label1
End If
If Abs(DeltaY) > XYLimit Then
setuserled(1003,0)
GoTo label1
End If
GoTo sortie
Else
GoTo label1
End If
'***************************************************************************
'label1: Routine qui prend en charge le plate sensing
' et ajuste le Z à la hauteur de coupe
'***************************************************************************
label1:
If getuserled(1003) =0 Then
setvar (1001, Xaxis) '1001 = uservariable = valeur de X lors du plate sensing
setvar (1002, Yaxis) '1002 = user variable = valeur de Y lors du plate sensing
Else
End If
ActivateSignal (OUTPUT4)
code ("G28.1z0")
While IsMoving()
Wend
deactivateSignal (OUTPUT4)
Setuserled(1003,1) 'LED du MODE SPS est ON
'***************************************************************************
' Sortie du programme
'***************************************************************************
Sortie:
code ("g00z0.20") 'ajuste le Z à la hauteur de coupe
While IsMoving()
Wend
DoSpinCW() 'Start Plasma
Trial_yes: 'en Mode TRIAL skip la procédure de plate sensing et start plasma.
End Sub
M15 file-
deactivateSignal (output3)
code ("g04 p0.5")
I noticed that my profile.xml is in the macros folder as well as the mach3 root folder. However, they are different ie do not contain the same information
-
Here is a portion of what i believe is my profile.
Like I said, the file is huge I can't post it all.
Post edited - see reply #13 for the complete .xml file.
-
For the XML, you'll need to click on the reply button below the post to be able to attach the file, not just copy and past it (sorry, I should have explained)
-
ahhh there we go. Here is the profile.xml