Messages

381

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: January 27, 2016, 04:12:57 PM »

(;-) Mach3 cannot read a crystal ball and figure out exacty what YOU WANTED it to do. It can ONLY do what YOU TELL  it to do .  In this case it is an operator error that no machine can compensate for as you asked it to do something that it cannot physically do. I would have simply dialed  the setvolts to teh proper voltage level as soon as I saw it lower onto teh plate after the THC delay cleared.

IF you do not correct it it will continue going DOWN until it breaks the torch, trips a limit, Goes to teh THC MIN, or breaks away teh torch(magnetic holder).

I have done all of the above as well (;-).

You do WATCH new untested programs programed with SWAG settings don't you? (;-)

(;-) TP

382

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: January 27, 2016, 03:30:06 PM »

The THC cannot signal for torch down IF the voltage level has not changed. The voltage level is what drives the entire process . Mach3 has no idea what the voltage level is nor does need to know that . It simply watches the up/down signals and does what it is told to do(;-) .

Sometimes IF you get teh span volts(deadband) too wide the THC will get lazy and slow to respond . IT would be fine for thicker cuts but far too slow for thin springy sheetmetal that as you pass over a section it goes Boung  and springs straight up .500" or so. The tip will drag untill the THC can catch up.

(;-) TP

383

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: January 27, 2016, 01:45:38 PM »

HI Dave.

IF the arc volts go uP then the torch goes down

If the Arc volts go down the torch goes up

Anti corner lock blocks torch down ( Mach3 function)

Anti Gap lock blocks torch down across a void ( THC control function)

What else would you think it needs ?

I would start with the Corner lock at %90 it will vary as to your machine and it motion charectoristics

(;-) TP

384

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: January 27, 2016, 01:22:32 PM »

Hi Ian, Not really, IF you try to slow down with thin sheet goods you end up blowing out the Metal and the torch shuts down (;-).  SO it has to be fairly close to cut specs to even cut.

(;-) TP

385

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: January 27, 2016, 01:14:28 PM »

HI Dave. Mach3 has anti corner dive built in. IF teh combined vel drops below the setting it locks out THCdown from working. You  still get the THC up function to prevent head collision. Most set it too low.

IF you set this too low teh head will dive due to teh THC trying to correct teh voltage as teh Vel slows down for a curve.  How far it will dive is a function of how slow teh Vel gets in that particular curve and where you have teh cutoff point set to.

386

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: unable to make a barrell shape with OD3 wizard

« on: January 27, 2016, 12:39:54 PM »

One would think that it would use a MIN of 1/2 teh length as it is impossible to do less as a barrel shape.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

387

Mach Screens / Re: My screen

« on: January 27, 2016, 12:33:06 PM »

Very Nice and to the point . GOOD JOB

(;-) TP

388

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: January 27, 2016, 12:21:44 PM »

Hi Robert , You highlighed the very question I was asking. IF teh direct pulse method(on/Off) is the faster possible move of the stepper HOW is it they can use accell and deaccel with an outside Z drive and do it faster ?? .  Maybe Scurve profile ? but that would not neccesarily be quicker for the length of the average move.

The best method would be to run teh entire THC function directly from inside of the Motion Controller itself ( ESS, UC300,etc) . Just give it the reference voltage or frequency and the Ark OK signal and it handles everything internally.  There is one that can do that currently.


Another interesting investigation is to be able to Directly TALK to the THC without a COM link to the THC. That way teh THC could be  adjusted on ANY controller ON THE FLY and without a COM link. A universal fully programmable THC without teh need to create a normal Com link to talk to it.

(;-) TP

389

Brains Development / Re: Axis Feed Hold Brains

« on: January 27, 2016, 11:13:42 AM »

I do not know of ANY mechanism inside of Mach3 that will aloow you to do that. Many have tried over teh years. 

(;-) TP

390

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: January 27, 2016, 11:02:43 AM »

HI Ian, there are cutters on the market that use an outside THC controller that drives it OWN Z axis independant of MACH3 . They appear to be able to cut curragated sheet at high speed. To do that the Z MUST be very quick and fast obviously faster than teh normal Mach3 can do THC control.

SO is the speed limit a function of the stepper motor being directly pulsed without a curve or the speed of the THC to be able to respond.   With a fast Z 2tpi you can drive teh Z faster than the THC can keep up with corrections and get overshooting.

(;-)TP