Mesa THCAD
- thefabricator03
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15 Jun 2019 13:24 #136977
by thefabricator03
Mesa THCAD was created by thefabricator03
Hi Guys,
Basic question that I could not find the answer to via search,
How can the Mesa THCAD-10 be used as a plasma THC without using a Mesa card to read the output frequency? Can another board be used that will just convert the frequency to a voltage?
I am setting up my ethercat system and would like to use the Mesa THCAD as my torch height controller but I am unsure how to integrate it with other hardware.
Basic question that I could not find the answer to via search,
How can the Mesa THCAD-10 be used as a plasma THC without using a Mesa card to read the output frequency? Can another board be used that will just convert the frequency to a voltage?
I am setting up my ethercat system and would like to use the Mesa THCAD as my torch height controller but I am unsure how to integrate it with other hardware.
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- rodw
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15 Jun 2019 13:35 #136979
by rodw
Replied by rodw on topic Mesa THCAD
THCAD is not dependent on mesa hardware so I think you just need an ethercat encoder input .
But I thought you were using gecko drives. Did you change your mind?
But I thought you were using gecko drives. Did you change your mind?
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- pl7i92
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15 Jun 2019 14:55 #136986
by pl7i92
Replied by pl7i92 on topic Mesa THCAD
what etercat system are you using
german beckhoff ?
what hardware parts you already got
german beckhoff ?
what hardware parts you already got
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- PCW
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15 Jun 2019 15:10 #136991
by PCW
Replied by PCW on topic Mesa THCAD
If you have a EtherCAT system you should be able to add an EtherCAT isolated A-D card to replace the THCAD. There's nothing really special about the THCAD except very good, low capacitance HV isolation and input overvoltage protection.
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- tommylight
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15 Jun 2019 23:11 - 21 May 2020 22:41 #137010
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Mesa THCAD
Just so I do not start a new thread ( or should I ? ), I did wire the THCAD to an older Iskra plasma cutter with HV start, tested the pilot arc and everything is OK.
I think I read in the manual that there should be provisions added for such a case when using the THCAD300, but the reality is that all plasma cutters with HV or HV/HF start must have such provisions inside to protect the rectifier from high voltages produced during pilot arc.
The only caviat is, do not wire it to the big cable terminals, never. Look for a small board with capacitors and resistors in it, those are the things keeping the rectifier from blowing up at every start. Use a DVM, both terminals that go to the workpiece and the torch are wired to that board so they will show as a short on the DVM ( or a beep with 0 resistance. ).
Will do a video very soon.
Anyway, I can barely wait to wire it to one of the Mesa boards and start doing some controlled destruction on metal plates !
You can also use the parallel port, but it is nearly unusable.
Thinking of it , I will test that also and report back, while I am at it.
I think I read in the manual that there should be provisions added for such a case when using the THCAD300, but the reality is that all plasma cutters with HV or HV/HF start must have such provisions inside to protect the rectifier from high voltages produced during pilot arc.
The only caviat is, do not wire it to the big cable terminals, never. Look for a small board with capacitors and resistors in it, those are the things keeping the rectifier from blowing up at every start. Use a DVM, both terminals that go to the workpiece and the torch are wired to that board so they will show as a short on the DVM ( or a beep with 0 resistance. ).
Will do a video very soon.
Anyway, I can barely wait to wire it to one of the Mesa boards and start doing some controlled destruction on metal plates !
You can also use the parallel port, but it is nearly unusable.
Thinking of it , I will test that also and report back, while I am at it.
Last edit: 21 May 2020 22:41 by tommylight. Reason: typo
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- thefabricator03
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16 Jun 2019 07:34 #137025
by thefabricator03
I am using Gecko Drives on my current machine but my future machines will be based on ethercat.
Replied by thefabricator03 on topic Mesa THCAD
THCAD is not dependent on mesa hardware so I think you just need an ethercat encoder input .
But I thought you were using gecko drives. Did you change your mind?
I am using Gecko Drives on my current machine but my future machines will be based on ethercat.
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16 Jun 2019 07:39 #137026
by thefabricator03
I am still working out how I am doing to design the system,
I am thinking I will use Ethercat AC servos, At this stage I plan to use a AB&T Easy I/O ethercat slave and was planning on using a Mesa THCAD-10 for the THC.
I just have to work out how I am going to interface the THCAD with the ethercat hardware.
Replied by thefabricator03 on topic Mesa THCAD
what etercat system are you using
german beckhoff ?
what hardware parts you already got
I am still working out how I am doing to design the system,
I am thinking I will use Ethercat AC servos, At this stage I plan to use a AB&T Easy I/O ethercat slave and was planning on using a Mesa THCAD-10 for the THC.
I just have to work out how I am going to interface the THCAD with the ethercat hardware.
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16 Jun 2019 09:18 #137034
by thefabricator03
Replied by thefabricator03 on topic Mesa THCAD
What kind of encoder input card should I be looking for?
As in should I be looking for a incremental input type?
What about this one?
www.ia.omron.com/products/family/2972/specification.html
As in should I be looking for a incremental input type?
What about this one?
www.ia.omron.com/products/family/2972/specification.html
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- rodw
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16 Jun 2019 10:50 - 16 Jun 2019 10:51 #137036
by rodw
Replied by rodw on topic Mesa THCAD
If you follow PCW's advice, you could simplify this with something like a Beckhoff EL3101 which gives you the same 0-10 volt sensing range as the THCAD infosys.beckhoff.com/english.php?content...l31xx/index.html&id=
BUt I know nothing about this stuff. There are heaps of analog voltage sensors, just some of the look pretty slow v's the servo thread, this one looks fast enough and is 16 bit
BUt I know nothing about this stuff. There are heaps of analog voltage sensors, just some of the look pretty slow v's the servo thread, this one looks fast enough and is 16 bit
Last edit: 16 Jun 2019 10:51 by rodw.
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16 Jun 2019 11:32 #137039
by thefabricator03
Replied by thefabricator03 on topic Mesa THCAD
I think I have found what I have been looking for,
www.brunner-innovation.swiss/product/ethercat-io/
It is a I/O module with a built in incremental encoder input A/B/Z signals,
My question is will the THCAD card work with a incremental encoder input.
www.brunner-innovation.swiss/product/ethercat-io/
It is a I/O module with a built in incremental encoder input A/B/Z signals,
My question is will the THCAD card work with a incremental encoder input.
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