Hi,
sounds like we're starting to make some progress.
I've used Mach3 but never that G28.1 trick, really really kool. I've used G31 extensively in Mach3 and for the last 18 months in Mach4.
Look for:
Mill GCode Programming
in Mach4 Docs. Note there is NO G28.1 mentioned. I don't know whether that's an oversight or what.
What I have found that all the gcode jobs that I used to run in Mach3 all pretty much works in Mach4. When all said and done Mach of whatever
flavor is a Gcode interpreter....conforming Gcode should work in either. Its my experience that Mach4 conforming Gcode is somewhat stricter in
interpretation than Mach3 compliant Gcode, there are a lot of tricks and shortcuts we used in Mach3 which really aren't good practice and often wont work
in Mach4.
I do recommend the use of G31.nnnn, you can generate probe files and all sorts of things and all extremely accurately.
For a plasma table you really really REALLY NEED THC. THC is a realtime feature and is enacted by the controller. Vital Systems HiCon board is the only Mach4
board I know of which has implemented it at this time. Nice screen addition in the GUI to support it too. The HiCon is not cheap but it is good....suck it up!
You may be required to do a little Lua coding to tie it all together but probably only 20 lines or so. Knowing what those lines are and where to put them is another
matter but you will find help on the forum.
Craig