Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Gross loss of position

« on: October 22, 2008, 09:59:44 PM »

The THC-300 board fires the torch through a relay. Yes, this had worked prior to adding the THC, I was running the torchmate software when I first got the machine a few months ago though. When I added the z-axis and swapped out the motors/controls I started using mach and had it running before messing with the THC although I did not run a lot of programs through, maybe 10-15. I was thinking it working before adding the THC-300 and completely disconnected the unit, wired the torch on directly to my breakout board and remapped the torch on in mach to correspond. I then cut a test program of four 4" circles, about a 8 or 9 times without issue. So, i'm pretty sure there's some issue with my THC-300 unit, i've dispatched a post on the yahoo forum for the THC-300. Thanks.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC-300 sheet cam help!!!!

« on: October 18, 2008, 10:04:39 PM »

I'm just getting started myself with a similar setup and have found the same as you, if you set the heights in sheetcam they seem to work for me.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Gross loss of position

« on: October 18, 2008, 01:53:58 PM »

Allright, I was out of town this past week for work, so it took me a few days to get back at it. I just tried running a program with torch on/off like normal and another with only one torch on/off at start/finish. With the torch firing only on start/finish it cut without issue, with it firing multiple times in the program it moved the same as before. Any ideas?

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Gross loss of position

« on: October 13, 2008, 07:03:29 PM »

So it follows the path fine while using the THC as long as there isn't any M5s in your code?

I did not edit a program so that it never turns off the torch, I will add that to the list of things to try. I did edit out the G28's and run with the THC off (in mach), also set the post to ref. home at every torch start, both with no effect. I also tried editing the G00 rapid to G01 with F100 after the M05. I've adjusted velocity/acceleration down and increased step/dir pulses, which did nothing as well.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: 24 pin parallel cable

« on: October 13, 2008, 06:36:04 PM »

Office depot had both 25 pin cables and gender changers.

6

General Mach Discussion / Gross loss of position

« on: October 13, 2008, 06:08:35 PM »

My setup: A older Torchmate 1 machine, converted to use Keling 495 oz/in (X&Y) and 156 oz/in (Z) motors all hooked to Keling 6050 drivers. I also have a THC-300 height controller and a Powermax 1000. Using Sheetcam for G-code generation and Mach3 to run it all.

The problem: Gross loss of position after a M05 command only when actually cutting. It seems like the rapid to the next torch start never actually moves when commanded to do so. This does not occur after every M05 (see pictures below). With a marker taped to the torch, it "cuts" fine every time. The amount deviated can be quite a bit, I measured ~.5" +Y and ~3" -X direction on one part. I thought interference might be causing the problem, so I separated the torch and motor cables, same thing. This problem occurs when using the THC or when not using it.

If anyone could shed some light into this issue, I would really appreciate it. I've been pulling my hair out for the past two days trying to resolve this issue.