Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / I have a pendant and c22 board from cnc4pc, how can I troubleshoot

« on: May 29, 2015, 11:21:55 AM »

I have these two parts here http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=159
and http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?products_id=353

the only thing that works is the e-stop button, and when pressing the enable button and watching the mach3 diagnostic screen, one of the green squares lights up, but when I turn the wheel nothing happens... shouldn't it be possible to use the diagnostic screen to show me the signals from the wheel, I have measured most of the signals with ma osciloscope and there are coming signals from the c-22 board, the clock pulses coming from the c-22 board are maybe too weak 3,5Volts p-p (peak to peak), I have 4,88 volts coming from my USB port any suggestions?

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Can I "level" my work piece in software?

« on: May 11, 2015, 02:32:37 PM »

My "problem" is that I have a 1,5x1,5 meter size plasma table and the edges on the table are standing 1-3 mm higher than the working area so if I am cutting larger plate that stands out of the working are it will be inclined, so the Z height is not the same all over the plate. I know the best method is to have a THC to control the Z axis but I find it too expensive and I think that if I could manually "level" working area in software that would mostly solve the problem I am having. the workpiece can also be tilted because of other reasons than the piece standing out of the table of course....

What I was hoping would be possible was that I could go to each corner of my working envelope, and zero the Z axis in mach 3, and that mach3 would then recognize that the plate is a little bit inclined/tilted, and it would take that into account when cutting and increase/ decrease the Z height depending on where it is positioned at each time on the table... is this possible? I was also thinking if it would be possible to manually adjust the Z height when the program is running ( because sometimes I could simply adjust the Z height using the keyboard and watching the gap between the workpiece and the nozzle. with these possibilities it would solve most of the Z height problem, I already have a floating height Z for zeroing the Z height before each pierce.

f.y.i I have hypertherm powermax 45 plasma cutter