Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: sbharg01 on September 10, 2020, 06:41:33 PM

Title: Lose the contact trigger intermittently
Post by: sbharg01 on September 10, 2020, 06:41:33 PM
Hi, I am new to Mach 3 and plasma burn tables also but trying to get a couple of TRUCUT machines started again after sitting idle for several months. The first machine, which I will limit this post to, is running Windows 10 with an ethernet stepper controller. I get it working, I will burn a few parts and then it loses the signal for the floating head limit switch. I believe I am describing this right and the contact alarm does not light. The actual switch is working fine

But, not knowing what else to do, I reboot the computer, reboot the controller, once, twice, multiple times, take a break, try it some more, and then it will start working again. But the next day same problem. I have searched for answers on this topic but haven't found them. Hoping someone here can point me in the right direction.

Steve
Title: Re: Lose the contact trigger intermittently
Post by: Graham Waterworth on September 10, 2020, 08:19:13 PM
The next time this happens you need to check the diagnostic leds to see if the switch is signalling the control, it could just be a bad connection or a broken wire in the cable.

Title: Re: Lose the contact trigger intermittently
Post by: sbharg01 on September 11, 2020, 11:45:15 AM
You were exactly right! Thank you! There was a loose wire from the torch head limit switch at a terminal strip inside an enclosure above the head. Repaired and is working fine. I kept thinking it was some parameter I had set wrong.

Now my second TRUCUT burn table running MACH3 on a Windows XP machine through the parallel port will not fire the torch. The program runs fine, dry run works great, but when I try to burn a part it stops because torch is not on. MACH 3 tells the torch to light but it doesn't. Can't do it manually either through MACH 3 but I think the torch is working fine. Should I start another thread and ask for help?

Thank you again
Steve