Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / The never ending THC Saga !!

« on: October 24, 2010, 08:06:30 PM »

Hi guys,

After months and months  I am still  continually struggling to get my THC 300 to operate correctly !!!!!

Originally I was trying to get the THC  to work with the smooth stepper but after a lot of questions, I was told that the THC would not work with the Smooth Stepper.  After reverting back to my PMDX breakout board and a second PP port.   I was able to get the THC somewhat functional.  My THC seems operate but has very erratic movements and causes the z axis to oscillation when the THC is under control.  When this is happening the up and down LEDS blink very quick rate.    When I turn the THC  off the oscillation goes away.

 Anyone have any input on this??

I am almost ready to sell this machine for scrap metal  !!!!!!

Any help is very much appreciated

2

SmoothStepper USB / smooth stepper and THC300

« on: August 25, 2010, 10:03:21 PM »

hi all,

I have a working (well almost) plasma table using the smooth stepper and a thc300.    I cant get the z-axis  to make corrections when my thc300 is enabled.  Mach wants to move the z-axis but i get no output.   All other functions of the z-axis work (i.e jog z or, torch touchoff)   

  I posted in the general fourm as was told that the thc300 will not work with the ss

does anyone have a thc300 installed with the ss  that can help ??


thanks

3

General Mach Discussion / thc300 help

« on: August 24, 2010, 09:12:36 PM »

Hi all,

I have a thc300  torch height controller that i cant get to work properly. 

Everything appears to work correctly but the THC will not make z-movement corrections with the THC enabled (thc Lite flashing).  All the mach3 leds (up, down, ark ok) appear to lite up when required, except the torch active led.  The "torch active" led does not lite up under any condition.  Also the thc correction dro never changes from 0.000    While the torch is cutting material,  the led display shows a dc voltage that seems appropriate to the torch to material distance.  This value changes as the torch to material distance changes.

I am using a smooth stepper and a pmdx-131  break out board  for interface , Sheetcam with the THC-300 post processor to generate my code.  The torch offest portion of the code appears to work, but not the correction.

Does anyone know why my z-axis correct  ?


Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks
 

4

SmoothStepper USB / Smooth Stepper - no motor output

« on: March 18, 2010, 05:06:51 PM »

Hi all,

I recently installed a smooth stepper on my 3-axis plasma cutter with a thc-300 installed.   My setup consists of the following:   gecko 201 steppers,  pmdx-131 for the breakout board, and thc-300 torch height controller.   

The current issue I am having is there is no output to the motors!!   The DRO's show movement through mach3  and the smooth stepper diagnostics page shows motor output data,  but the drives will not spin !!   Anyone have ideas ??

Also for additional information all the other inputs  and outputs (estop, limits, and relay outputs (torch start)) seen to work.  Huh

I have attached my XML file.  Can someone help me analyze this to find my problem.    Any help is greatly appreciated


Thanks

5

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / sheetcam thc300 post porcesssor help

« on: May 13, 2009, 08:29:51 PM »

hello all,

I am a newbie trying to learn the code of the thc300 post processor. I have drawn a simple square and applied the thc300 post processor to it.

I have been having issues with certain settings under sheet cam. My issues are as follows:

1. How do I set the speed of the z movement when the torch plunges for stock. I have changed the the plunge rate though the "plasma cutter properties page" with no success

2. How do I set the rapid speed of the z axis when the torch is motion.


attached is the .tap file that was created by sheetcam

N0000 (Filename: square5555.tap)
N0010 (Post processor: Plasma THC300.post)
N0020 (Date: 1/28/2002)
N0030 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0040 G53 G90 G40
N0050 F1
N0060 S500
N0070 (Part: square)
N0080 (Process: Plasma, 0, Plasma, 0.0008 inch kerf)
N0090 M06 T0 (Plasma, 0.0008 inch kerf)
N0100 G00 Z0.0000
N0110 X4.7975 Y5.8531
N0120 G28.1 Z0.12
N0130 G92 Z0.0
N0140 G00 Z0.1330
N0150 G92 Z0.0
N0160 G00 Z0.0800
N0170 M03
N0180 G01 X4.7975 Y5.8531 F50
N0190 G02 X5.4375 Y6.4931 I0.6400 J0.0000 F130.0
N0200 G01 Y0.0004
N0210 X0.0004 Y0.0004
N0220 Y6.4931
N0230 X5.4375
N0240 G02 X4.7975 Y5.8531 I-0.6400 J0.0000
N0250 M05
N0260 M05 M30


Also can someone explain certain functions within the posted g-code as i do not understand them.

N0050 F1 (not sure what this does )
N0060 S500 (not sure what this does )
N0100 G00 Z0.0000 (i assume this is the plunge, How do I change the g00 for a specific feed rate)

thanks for any help in advance

6

General Mach Discussion / mach 3 and thc 300 arc voltage setpoint

« on: May 13, 2009, 08:27:48 PM »

Hi all,


I have a plasma table running mach3 and the thc300 plugin.

Where is the proper location to set the arc voltage setpoint?? I have tried the
"tip volts" point under the settings page with no success. Does anyone know if this is the correct location to set your tip voltage ??

I am tried to trouble shoot if this is a THC issue or a Mach issue


thanks for any input in advance

7

General Mach Discussion / Arc Voltage control

« on: November 09, 2008, 02:42:26 PM »

hey all,

After getting most of  the small issues  sorted out with my THC-300.  I have started to do some cuts to fine tune my machine.

After  some testing I have noticed  an issue with the Arc Voltage control.   My  THC seems to operate correctly   (i.e It moves the Z axis  up and down.  )
But my issue is that it does not seem to maintain the THC voltage set point.   

Here is an explanation of  what is happening. -=-

I am cutting a simple square  using a 40Amp tip  set to 200 IPM my Z is also set to 200IPM.  My arc voltage set point is  78VDC and set though Mach3 in the Settings page labeled "Tip Volts"
My code is also generated with sheet cam using the THC300  post processor.
When the code is run everything appears  normal but the arc voltage on the front panel display  will vary between  70 and  100 Volts.


thanks for any help in advance

8

General Mach Discussion / THC-300 sheet cam help!!!!

« on: October 16, 2008, 06:39:17 PM »

Hello all,


I am running mach3 on a 3 axis plasma table using a  floating head switch on the z-axis.   For the mach display i am using  the  THC-300  screen set that is offered by cambell designs.   

For a test file I drew a simple  square and generated the g-code using  sheet cam with the THC-300 Post processor




Can someone with this similar setup help me clarify a few questions.


1.  When I change any of the values in the "settings" tab,  there is no effect    i.e no cut height change, no Peirce height change.    DO these fields work

2.  Do people set properties such as  Peirce height , Peirce delay , and cut height  thought sheet cam or do u  use the "settings" tab



thanks for any help in advance !!!!!

9

General Mach Discussion / dro questions

« on: September 13, 2008, 11:42:39 AM »

hello all,

I am having a problem with my machine dro's upon startup. 

 I am ussing the thc300 screenset and everytime i start mach3 with this screen  my machine DRO's go to zero.   

I have looked in the the config tabs with no success.   Is there a way to disable this


thanks in advance
 

10

General Mach Discussion / thc300 install

« on: August 26, 2008, 09:40:15 PM »

hello all,


I am in the process of installing the thc300  file set into mach3.

  I  have copied all the associated files and bitmaps as suggested by  bob campbells  installation  instructions  but when i run the "thc300m3"  profile  I have no screens or buttons!!!

Am i doing something wrong??


thanks  in advance for any help