Messages

2461

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC setting up assistance...

« on: April 11, 2014, 05:37:04 AM »

There you go - got it in one.

Ok thats good, thanks.

(or upgrade to a PM45 and use a THC that can be configured to send ArcOK by magic instead of using a pin)

Can we just not order some of these magic pins? 

2462

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC setting up assistance...

« on: April 11, 2014, 05:02:18 AM »

Ok, am i on the right track...

Move my probe switch to the limit switch circuit.
Remove the probe input entry in ports & pins and use it for the arc-ok input.
Reverse my Z homing direction.
Remove the Z axis from the home-all button.
Switch sheetcam post to use G28.1

This will free up an input for Arc-OK but means my Z axis will now home downwards??

2463

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC setting up assistance...

« on: April 11, 2014, 04:14:42 AM »

I'll dig into the sheetcam post, the one paragraph in the manual is practically useless BTW

2464

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC setting up assistance...

« on: April 11, 2014, 03:45:53 AM »

Yes that's exactly how my inputs are wired.

How does G28.1 work if it does not use the probe input??

If i move the limits to the e-stop input, does the home-all feature still recognise them ok?

Thanks

2465

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC Codes upset corners???

« on: April 11, 2014, 02:14:52 AM »

Dave as far as the min max if you set the min too short then if you touch off on a high spot on th emetal then start to cut when you get to the low spot you may run out of range and the cut quailty suffers. Now IF you are worried that the torch may snag on the plate somewhere set your Z lower limit at just below the table surface to phelp protect the torch crashing into the metal below the top of the table and hit the slats.

My best advice is to stop worrying about what ifs and get to cutting, pay attention and take notes. I could spend DAYS talking to you about what you MAY see or not as you may never run into some situations.

Plasma cutting HAS a very steep learning curve to it. It takes time to master ALL the different things that you will need to learn.

You do have a magnetic breakaway torch mount RIGHT If not that would be my next purchase or build one yourself.

As to Stirlings HT connector it is just a connector right ? Buy a mating plug and wire the unit into your Machine as you have done the other thingy.

I was hoping that Stirling would bring his stufF to the USA but as HOOD suggested I think he is hiding it from us (;-) Probably does not want us to pick on him.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

Thanks for that,
I do tend to focus on the what-if's too much
I also tend to have lots of questions when met with things that are either not straight forwards or not explained in any manual etc.
I will be looking into a mag torch mount soon but my floating head has a limit switch as well so if it rams the slats it will just stop, not so good in a runaway where it rams while moving along as well but better than nothing.

I tried setting z-min soft limit but it seems to get upset by my probing using the work offsets and threw up a lot of soft-limit errors so i have just disabled soft-limits on z now.

It's cutting at least

2466

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC setting up assistance...

« on: April 10, 2014, 02:17:31 PM »

The manufacturers say very little (but I'm sure you knew that ) This is simply a voltage comparator THC, it outputs three signals - up, down and arc ok, there are no inputs apart from torch voltage.

By the way Mach is working with it, I am guessing that the up and down signals will affect the z-axis regardless of THC on or off settings. I am not using arc-ok as I have no more inputs on my board.

I can see the z motor turning slightly as it cuts when the THC button in mach is off, if I turn this on, the torch will pierce but then do nothing presumably as it is waiting for arc-ok?

The only way I can see to use the arc ok signal is to move the e-stop button to the limit inputs, I think that will do a similar job, then I can use the unused e-stop input for arc-ok.

2467

General Mach Discussion / THC setting up assistance...

« on: April 10, 2014, 10:38:43 AM »

Would I be right in my belief that unless I am using the ARC-Ok input from a THC, I will not be able to turn THC on or off within Mach3???

That seems to be the way it behaves, just confirming.

2468

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC Codes upset corners???

« on: April 10, 2014, 07:54:23 AM »

Yes but the PM45 is at least £450 more than the 30XP and for home and the 30XP is already top budget.

Which is why surely, your 30XP doesn't have your suggested additions - or do you want them added for free? 

Ok, Ok I give in

2469

General Mach Discussion / Re: THC Codes upset corners???

« on: April 10, 2014, 07:32:53 AM »

Personally I think they should add the voltage divider and socket then market this machine for home use cnc. Its a great little unit

Or even up the power a tad and add the option of a machine torch - they could call it... erm... a PM45.

Seriously Hypertherm do more than enough options already - I've been trying to keep up with their gazillion models each with a gazillion options for years....

Yes but the PM45 is at least £450 more than the 30XP and for home use the 30XP is already top budget.

2470

VB and the development of wizards / Re: THCon() ???

« on: April 10, 2014, 07:29:33 AM »

Ok, Ok, i'm having a bad day


thanks