Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: G28.1 not hunting far enough

« on: July 12, 2011, 11:02:47 AM »

im looking in my diagnostics and at random times, the zhome light in the input section turns on and off rapidly,  Maybe I have a bad cable that is shorting somehow?  This is happening when I am not running a program just sitting there.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: G28.1 not hunting far enough

« on: July 12, 2011, 10:51:14 AM »

Thanks for the reply,
I checked the home true without switches, it is not checked

Z home is active

3

General Mach Discussion / G28.1 not hunting far enough

« on: July 11, 2011, 02:17:51 PM »

Hello, I am having some issues with my plasma. The machine has a floating torch holder, it references the z axis, moves the switch offset, then moves to my set pierce height.  It works as it should, except if the material warps.  Example, the torch is cutting and references at a higher warped point.  When the torch moves to a part that is lower, it calls the g28.1 and goes to reference the z.  It hunts for the switch and doesnt go far enough down, (like a parameter is stopping it) then goes up adding for the switch offset amount and to the pierce height.  Thus being way above the part.  Is there a way to make it go further? 
Heres a sample file.

N0000 (Filename: 1 circle test.tap)
N0010 (Post processor: MP1000-THC.scpost)
N0020 (Date: 24/06/2011)
N0030 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0040 G53 G90 G40
N0050 F1
N0060 (Part: 1 circle test)
N0070 (Process: Inside Offset, Layer 1, T1: Plasma, 0.03 in kerf)
N0080 M06 T1 F20  (Plasma, 0.03 in kerf)
N0090 G00 Z0.5000
N0100 X0.2160 Y0.5179
N0110 Z0.1500
N0120 G28.1 Z0.12
N0130 G92 Z0.0
N0140 G00 Z0.0520
N0150 G92 Z0.0
N0160 G00 Z0.1500
N0170 M03
N0180 G04 P1
N0190 G01 Z0.1250 F36
N0200 X0.0163 Y0.5304 F20
N0210 G02 I0.4837 J-0.0304 F20.0
N0220 M05
N0230 G00 Z0.5000
N0240 X0.0000 Y0.0000
N0250 M05 M30

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma fires and makes Estop

« on: February 25, 2011, 05:19:57 PM »

Ive been busy tearing into this and pulling just about all my hair out..  I found my problem,    well at least it stops faulting now.  Heres what I found out.  I'm using a Gecko G540 motor controller, this is tied directly to my computer.  When the torch was firing I was using the external relay on the LCTHC that is tied into the G540 and the fault light would trip on the G540 as soon as the arc fired.  I came to the conclusion that it was interfering with the onboard relay.  My solution was to add another relay, using the onboard one to trip the extra relay that I had installed.  It solved the faulting out.

How I came to this,  I tried everything, having the motors disconnected, it still tripped. All the limits are disconnected. Re grounded everything including my computer,  When I unplugged the wires that are connected to my torch switch it wouldn't fault, but reconnect them and it did.  there must be some interference in there to cause some kind of backfeeding into the G540.

But at least my controller box looks good again..

I hope it helps anyone that is having the same problem...

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Plasma fires and makes Estop

« on: February 18, 2011, 04:17:22 PM »

It works some days, then other days it just wont work at all... 

6

General Mach Discussion / Plasma fires and makes Estop

« on: February 18, 2011, 01:04:46 PM »

I have a problem that has been giving me a hard time.
I'm using steppers, Gecko G540, and CandCNC LCTCH.  When the program calls for torch on, it brings up Estop as soon as an arc fires.  But If I go to the torch handle and manually fire the torch it doesn't cause a problem.  I have unhooked all the motors from the G540 and it still faults out. I have no limit switches hooked up or turned on in the profile.  I ran good grounds in the star config to a 7' copper coated rod driven in the ground.  I changed Debounce way up and all over the place and it still doesn't work.. Anyone have any ideas???

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: October 28, 2010, 10:33:00 AM »

My name is Benjiman, I'm From good ol' North Dakota.  I just acquired a plasma table that needed a new control, So That's why I'm here.  I normally run Okuma Machines, but am really excited to get the plasma table up and going.  So I should be on here quite a bit.  We run BobCAD for our software, Some of our equipment includes, Okuma MC40H horizontal machining center with pallet change and rotary axis (1 degree),,  Okuma LC20 4ST 4 axis simuluturn Turning center with upper and lower turrets (but the bottom is dead right now)  a Wiedemann S4050 40 ton Turret punch,  We are going to retrofit this machine as the Micon 80 control is a PITA to do programming on..  ABB IRB2000 welding and plasma Robots..  just a few of the machines we have..   I enjoy my job, when things go as planned....  I enjoy snowmobiling and cars, and I really enjoy my family.. 
Thats all.. 
Nice to meet all of you.

8

Tangent Corner / Re: WD-40 funny

« on: October 28, 2010, 10:18:39 AM »

Notice how her legs are crossed.... Thats usually what I get too....