Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Jcar on October 02, 2007, 02:51:54 PM

Title: Mach3 - Campbell THC Help
Post by: Jcar on October 02, 2007, 02:51:54 PM

Gentlemen,

I have my cnc plasma table up and running using Mach3 and Bob Campbell's THC300 torch height controller.  Everything works very well, except small holes (ie..3/8").  I can change my THC settings in Mach3 and get reasonable results, however these settings don't work so well for other more general cuts.  I can get very nice holes without using the THC (ie.. fixed cutting height).  Does anyone know of a macro or g-code that can be used to enable / disable the THC from within a program.

Thanks,

Jcar,

Title: Re: Mach3 - Campbell THC Help
Post by: Hood on October 04, 2007, 03:10:45 PM

Dont have plasma or THC so I dont know how its switched on/off. If its done via an output then you should be able to do a simple macro for that, ie if its output 4  you use I think all you would need is
" DeActivateSignal (Output4)" in your macro, name the macro something like M13.m1s and then when you have that in your code it will deactivate that output, similarly you could do the same for activating your output.
 Hood

Title: Re: Mach3 - Campbell THC Help
Post by: Jcar on October 05, 2007, 03:46:57 PM

Hood,

Thanks for the reply.  After looking through the Wiki I came up with the same solution.  I created a M101.m1s file in my macro subdirectory and used the DoOEMButton(123) command (OEM 123 being the THC toggle).  In Sheetcam I insert an M101 code before the hole cutting operation, which toggles the THC off, and another M101 code after the hole cutting operation, which toggles the THC back on.  Works great!!

Jcar, 

Title: Re: Mach3 - Campbell THC Help
Post by: Hood on October 06, 2007, 03:52:48 PM

Glad you got it sorted :)

Hood