Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: gemstate on March 22, 2018, 03:51:31 PM

Title: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 22, 2018, 03:51:31 PM
We have a Plasma table from Plasmaroute CNC that has stopped firing the arc.  The Software is Sheetcam and Mach3.  The included hardware is a Thermal Dynamics 120A, plasmaoute's motion control box, and their PR301 (THC301) for our torch height control.  Everything was normal until about a week ago when Mach3 started making our computer crash upon opening the program.  We cleared a few new windows updates, then reinstalled Mach3 and Sheetcam.  Mach3 seems to act and read all the GCODE normal until it gets to an M03 or M05.  It pauses like it should, it just wont try to start the arc.  if i let the program run and i manually turn the torch on and off in mach3 it cuts just fine.  what could be the issue?  at this point i cant get ahold of plasmaroute and have ran out of ideas.  Thanks for any input
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 02:47:46 AM
i dont know your System/Hardware, and found no documentation about plasmaroute control box,
but normaly there is an Output (i.E. spindlerelay) witch Switches the cutter on/off (via M3 macro)

so if you post some Information of your box, and some screenshots of ports&pins -> spindle Setup.
also your XML would be helpful.
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 10:26:36 AM
http://www.cnc2all.com/downloads/TMC-THC301-Quick%20Start.pdf

This is the exact setup we run on our system to the best of knowledge
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 10:53:31 AM
can you please post your XML file?
 the Manual says noting about the used Signal, exept
all the torch control is done via LPT port 2.

Thank You
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 11:02:10 AM
http://photobucket.com/confirmation?token=2TJPtTn7METCYz%2B6JXYKZivzqT5V8GlzYqIA2uoObbeqZ4SF%2FTXlSnKU5DQDy31rvQYrm9KgbO7qbU%2BVCKM5sbZkoqmEeMaw
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 11:02:33 AM
http://photobucket.com/confirmation?token=2TJPtTn7METCYz%2B6JXYKZivzqT5V8GlzYqIA2uoObbeqZ4SF%2FTXlSnKU5DQDy31rvQYrm9KgbO7qbU%2BVCKM5sbZkoqmEeMaw
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 11:02:54 AM
that should be a screen shot of the ports and pins settings
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 11:04:09 AM
not realy
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 11:06:09 AM
you can save the Screenshot on your pc,
and use the Additional Options (left lower Corner)
when you post a reply to attach the file
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 11:09:44 AM
hope i got it this time
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 11:10:47 AM
as far as the XML file, how do you want me posting that?
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 11:14:03 AM
as far as the XML file, how do you want me posting that?

you can do it like the screenshot.
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 11:15:06 AM
can i have a screenshot of ports Setup and axis selection as well ?
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 11:37:52 AM
here is the other screen shot.  the XML file appears to be 33 pages.  does that sound right??
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 12:37:38 PM
ok thank you.
Setup is clear now.

Torch on is on port2 pin1.

i assume when you click Torch ON button (1) on your Screen
-torch ON LED (2) is comming up
-torch ON LED (3) on your TC301 is not comming up ?


Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 12:47:38 PM
when i click the torch on button(1), the torch fires and the LED above the button (2) is turning on, as well the LED on the THC (3) turns on.  the issues comes when I try to run the GCODE.  neither (2) or (3) turns on for the M03 command.  If i turn the torch on with the button (1) while running GCODE it will fire and run like normal until it hits the M05 code, when it wont turn off.  i have to click the button (1) again to kill the arc.  everything else runs like normal
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 12:55:03 PM
ok then we know all the Hardware is working, witch is good.

can you please post a copy off your M3.M1s and M5.M1s maco,
witch is located in C:\mach3\your Profile Name\macros ?

thank you

i know it's allways hard to troubleshoot from far away
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 01:30:24 PM
There were not files names "M3.M1s" or "M5.M1s".  the closest file to your description was in located in C:\mach3\macros.  file name "m3" has "DoSpinCW()", and file name "m5" has "DoSpinStop()".

I know it's hard to trouble shoot from a distance.  i appreciate the time you've put into it so far.  it's way way more support and effort than the manufacture has given.  they wont even return phone calls
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 01:47:12 PM
sorry i was wrong.

there should be a Folder

 C:\mach3\macros\your Profile Name ?

"your Profile Name" should be displayed on main scree right bottom side (Profile).
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 01:49:43 PM
the file names were the exact same as i listed above, but the files were empty.  im guessing that is a problem
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 02:11:18 PM
exactly

please edit both files


M3.m1s should contain a DoSpinCW()
M3.m1s should contain a DoSpinStop()
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: gemstate on March 23, 2018, 02:11:42 PM
THAT WAS IT!!!!!  Simply copied the macro codes from "C:\mach3\macro" to "C:\mach3\macros\profilename" and problem solved!!!  THANK YOUR VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP WITH WORKING ME THROUGH THIS!!!!!  The whole shop appreciates it.
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 23, 2018, 02:12:36 PM
glad to hear that it working now.
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 24, 2018, 08:20:51 AM
Excellent work TPS.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TPS on March 24, 2018, 08:28:00 AM
Thank You.

Thomas
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: magicniner on March 25, 2018, 07:40:12 PM
Once you have a working system, if you view it as business critical, you shouldn't be exposing it to internet connectivity or updates which don't address specific issues you want fixed, you can still have LAN connectivity whilst excluding internet connectivity ;-)
Title: Re: Mach3 wont fire torch on plasma table
Post by: TOTALLYRC on April 02, 2018, 06:35:24 AM
TPS,
Now we know who to call in the middle of the night when our machines don't work!!!!!

All kidding aside, nice job.

@Gemstate,
Now is the time to do a complete backup of your Mach3 folder and of you hard drive. In 5 minutes you can be up and running from a simple Mach3 failure by copying you Mach3 folder back in and if you should lose the Hard drive, it be be done in a hour or two.

Mike