Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 Hypertherm torch won't fire

« on: September 16, 2020, 06:22:39 PM »

Hi, trying to get a table running that has been sitting idle for over a year. First thing I had to do was to replace motherboard in Dell computer. Software still on hard drive. Running Windows XP through parallel port. All the axis are working fine. It will do a dry run no problem. But when I try to cut a part it stops after telling the torch to fire because it doesn't fire. I've checked all of the settings although I really don't know what I am looking for. But again they should all be where they were the last time it ran. Also replaced the Hypertherm 85 with a new one that was a backup, no change. Any help would be appreciated.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lose the contact trigger intermittently

« 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

3

General Mach Discussion / Lose the contact trigger intermittently

« 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