Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / System Freezes - Plasma mode

« on: February 16, 2012, 04:34:04 PM »

I am running the demo version of Mach3 Version R3.043.022 on a system with Vista with the Vista patch.
When my plasma torch fails to strike, the program interface locks up - the program continues to run but the
controller freezes as well as do the keyboard and mouse. I thought it might be noise interference between the
torch and the controller box as it was fairly close to the unit. However I have moved the control box farther
away and put a metal shield between them but it still freezes. Is this Vista related or still a shielding issue?

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: M7 and M9 controls

« on: February 01, 2012, 05:32:02 PM »

For further diagnosis: I have been running everything off of a secondary parallel adapter. M3 is set to Output #1 by the Ports and Pins tab.
In the Output Signals Tab, Output 1 is set to port 2, pin 1.
On adding the spark starter, I decided to use the primary parallel port and set the Output to #6, which is set to Port 1, pin 1.
On the Diagnostics page when I toggle the 2 values (Torch On) and (Mist On) they behave as expected. The diagnostic display of
the primary Port doesn't show any activity. Measurements of the pin voltages show the port to be alive but not responding to the
buttons. Diagnostics shows the port to be fine as well.
Any other ideas?

13

General Mach Discussion / M7 and M9 controls

« on: February 01, 2012, 10:17:02 AM »

I have a DIY CNC Gantry that I use for plasma cutting. My torch is a cheapo Chinese unit that works great when hand cutting but not for the CNC. I am adding an electronic spark starter system so the arc starts reliably but am having some diffiulties in making the system work the way I want it to. Once the arc starts, I want to turn off the starter circuit. My initiall thought was to use the mist coolant on (M7) to fire off the starter circuit and then All Coolant Off (M9) to shut the circuit down. Problem is that the M9 shuts off the plasma cutter as well.
Is the response to the M9 correct? I'm using M3 to start the torch and M5 to stop.
John