Messages

21

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 16, 2021, 08:11:17 PM »

Hi Steve

I'm not a Plasmaspider contributor so I can't down the file. But I did find the forum post that talks about how to get it going and there is some good clues in there. https://www.plasmaspider.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&p=197265
It is worth trying that post yourself - I could try and run the post but I can't test it on my machine as we have different torch height control systems. But lets put that off for a bit.

But before we worry about getting the post processor correct I need to step back to the start with this and confirm the following things are working:

Probing - In the MDI can you command a probe and dose it work? Yes or No?

Turning the torch off and on. in the MDI can you command the torch on and off? Yes or No?

ARC okay signal working. When the torch is firing do you get an Arc OK signal in Mach 4? Yes or No?

Can you start by confirming all these functions are working and the signals are being seen by Mach 4.


After that we need to the Torch Voltage is being read okay into the Price unit OK.  - if that is good we need to get the Price control box set up correctly to suit different materials.

Can I ask what plasma source you are using? The manual for your plasma cutter will give you the required cutting voltages for each material. In the Price control box you set different cut voltages for each material.

Once the Price box is set for the correct voltage it will output up and down signals into Mach 4 to control the torch height. The Price box can simulate up and down moves to Mach 4. Can you do this simulation and is Mach 4 receiving these signals?

If you can confirm if all the above functions work OK then I can be sure if it is a problem with your machine or the post processor.

I'm sorry this is hard to do from a long way away and I just need to know what is happening. Don't worry we will get it going.

Steve




 

22

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 16, 2021, 03:46:48 PM »

Can't help with that one, sorry. TNG  files are not something I use.

23

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 15, 2021, 07:10:30 PM »

Maybe one for the Proma? THC might work - they are similar to the Price THC.
Steve

24

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 14, 2021, 06:29:38 PM »

Okay - Send me the post processor you are using now and I will see if I can edit it to work a bit better - no promises but I have modified my own a few times.

Steve

25

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 14, 2021, 03:53:21 PM »

Can I ask if you can find a Post Processor to suit Mach 4 - one for Mach 3 isn't going to work for you and me be the cause of some of your troubles.

The Sheetcam forums might have one or they might be able to suggest a close one.

Steve

26

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 13, 2021, 08:07:05 PM »

It sure would be easy if I was there - I live in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney in Australia so that won't be happening.

It might just be dodgy G code - the post processor in sheet cam might need editing.

So M62 and M63 work as they should - good that's one thing not to worry about.

If you are game you could try a few edits of the g code you posted - I don't know your machine so you will need to have your hand over the E Stop if you want to try this.

From the G code you posted here try these edits:

Take out lines N0060, N0070, N0100, N0130 and N0140. They are things I'm not sure you need in there.

Edit line N0180 to "G04 P200" - no decimal point or places.

I would like to know if this makes it at least probes and starts to cut. If the height wanders we will work on that next.

If that probes and starts to cut OK we will edit your post processor to give you good g code.

Steve

27

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 13, 2021, 06:31:03 PM »

Oh and the G04 P200.00 on line N0180 is a 200 second pause - when you have a decimal point in it it's in seconds, take the decimal point out and set it for P200 (no decimal point and it is in milli seconds)- that's more what you need.
Steve
 

28

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 13, 2021, 06:23:16 PM »

It' very hard to diagnose problems over the forum but I'll try.
I am unfamiliar with the Price CNC plug in as well.

I opened your G Code Okay but some things look odd to me.
From your G Code:

Do you have a tool table set up? I see in your G code on line N0100 you have an M6 T1 - does the price cnc plug in set machine parameters via the tool table? - it would stop there waiting for you to hit the run button again to let Mach 4 know you have changed the tool.

Line N0060 - I can't see why you set the feed rate there when the next move not a g00 is the probing and it has a feed rate set on that line.

Again I'm not sure why you set a spindle speed on a plasma on line N0070.

N0110 I would have the Z height a lot higher than 0.080 to start the probing from - more like 2.0 in case your metal is a little warped.

N0140 and N0150 you just don't need -this is set on N0130?

N0160 and on makes sense to me.

Your G code is a little weird to me - but it could be things need by the Price plug in.

Can you try some things for me please?

1 With your machine is a safe position where it can not damage anything with a test fire of your torch - on the MDI can you issue a M62P3 - does that start the torch OK - Then issue a M63P3 to turn it off again straight away (a couple of seconds at most). Do you have a ARC OKAY signal and does it come on when the torch fires?

If you can't fire the torch and you don't get a ARC OKAY signal it would wait for that as well.

I guess you need to use the screen and plugins that work for you - the later ones should be better - I don't understand why your signals are not being recognised on the later versions.

We will just have to go through step by step to sort it out.

We need to confirm that the probe signal works and the torch fires Okay (using M62P3) you get an ARC OKAY signal as it fires and then you can turn the torch off with (M63P3) after that we will look further.

Try those couple of things and let me know how you go - we will get you going - it just might need a few tries of different things so we can eliminate possible troubles.

Steve

29

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 12, 2021, 05:10:26 PM »

Well that is going to be a problem - my pausing issues after probing went away after updating to the later versions of Mach 4 and the ESS plugin but I can see that is causing you another problem.

I really think you need to stay on the later versions of the software to get rid of your problem with the non stop pausing - I had to with mine. We can work through the other issues so you can.

Could you please draw a simple square and output the G Code for that and post the G Code here and I might be able to see if there is anything odd in that. You will have to save it as a text file and give it a unique name so it will save to here. (This is one thing to try and maybe I'll see something odd.)

With what I know of the Price THC it should work with any of the ESS plugins as it outputs up and down controls externally from it's control box and commands Mach to move by itself - (the Price control box commands the up and down moves).

How does your probe signal work? Do you use a limit type switch (floating head) or an ohmic detector - the probing is independent from the type of THC you use and we should be able to see why that isn't working. When you are on the diagnostic page can you simulate a probe strike by either tripping the probe switch manually if using a switch or by earthing out your torch head if you are using an ohmic system. Once we get a reliable probe detection we can move on from there. Can you check that the probe input is correct in your ESS set up and you can get the probe signal to light up on the diagnostic page when you simulate a probe strike. Check the wiring, the probe input is correct, the probe indicator light comes on when you simulate a probe strike. If that works as it should we should be able to move onto something else.

Do you use Mach 4's built in plasma screen? I need to know if we are working on the same screen.

Don't worry I'm sure we can get this to work - we just need to track down where the issue is.

Steve

30

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Pierce Height in Mach4

« on: June 08, 2021, 03:45:43 PM »

Hi Firstly update Mach4 Hobby to version 4.2.0.4612 and ESS plugin to version 275 - I think this will make a big difference as it will fix the hang on G04 commands (Pause commands)
Steve