Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Question on Plasma THC control to users of this facility

« on: November 23, 2016, 05:06:23 PM »

Mods if in the wrong place please move.

I am home brewing gear so sorry of the questions seem to be dumb, this is all new to me.

When using torch height control is there normally a 'dead' range that the head will not go up or down, hysteresis I guess it is called?  So  if you have your magic cutting height providing say 120 Volts into the controller, how many volts either side do you have before the controllers say move up or down?

I assume there is a hysteresis in controllers otherwise the Z axis would be constantly adjusting it self for even a minute variation.

I also assume that without the THCON input even if there is an input on Up or down the Z axis will not move until THCON is active?

If the last point is correct is there a requirement to send the X axis to a cutting height from pierce, or can this be left to THC control.

Cheers

Adrian

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to Mach3 just starting still on Demo, asking question can anyone help.

« on: October 12, 2016, 03:14:50 PM »

OK magic, it works and I understand a bit more.


Thank   you very much indeed.

I do not have time to check it out tonight with the plasma going, but I can see on the diagnostic page it saying the pin is active.

So if it works then off to get a licence probably at the weekend.

I have seen there are different screens I can load to change the look, also seen there is a program to edit the screens or generate new ones.  Possibly a bit above me at the moment, but I like the challenge!

Thanks for the assistance.

Adrian

43

General Mach Discussion / New to Mach3 just starting still on Demo, asking question can anyone help.

« on: October 11, 2016, 02:41:41 PM »

Pardon my ignorance, but I am slowing getting my setup to work.

I have known about Mach3 for years, but I have been running an old DOS based package that I bought years and years ago, but after having to get an old machine to once again run Dos, think it may be time to switch, but I have a question.

I am initially trying to get it to replicate Yeager Automation CNCPro, in particular the following if I can.

The old software has several Function keys that drove output pins as well as using G-code such as M03, M08 etc.

For instance 'Function 5' will toggle an output for me that is spindle clockwise on and off so same as M03 and M05 in the program.

Now there is a radio button for this (Plasma), so I can check the plasma arc on and off with the radio button, all good.

But I could do with a radio button to the main screen to turn on Flood cooling and turn it off again the same as M08 and then M09 in a program.

Is there a way of doing this?

The reason for this in my case was M08 turned on the stepper control board and M09 turned it off.  At the moment i am using Enable, but it is on when running Mach3 and I can not find the way to enable/disable from the keyboard.

have I missed something.

Cheers

Adrian