Newby Plasma Table
- islander261
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19 Oct 2015 02:38 #63904
by islander261
Newby Plasma Table was created by islander261
Hello
I am new user with an interest in plasma cutting. I need to replace a Torchmate 3 (Flashcut 3) based table controller with something more reliable and robust. I will need a full featured torch height control built into my desired controller solution (I am done with closed stand alone THCs). So far I have not found a single full featured torch height control implementation here but I will keep looking. If I decide to go ahead and use a LinuxCNC based solution I hope I will be able to find others here to collaborate with or mentor me through the process. I am good with electrical/electronics, basic C and Python coding, use of CAD and Sheetcam for CAM, and the commercial operation of my plasma cutter for last 4 years. I have a poor grasp of programming GUIs and lower level OS integration. I am attaching a preliminary requirements document I prepared. I welcome any comments, questions or criticisms that anyone may have.
Ok, now for the inevitable newby questions:
1. Which real time extension offers the best option for future growth and base OS flexibility?
2. Can a Mesa 5i25/7i76 combo read a Mesa THCad output?
3. Is a Mesa 7i76E a substitue for the 5i25/7i76 combination?
4. Which GUI is preferred for ease of modification and extension? I will not be using a touch screen. This is an area that I really know next to nothing about and will have many questions.
5. What have I forgotten to ask about?
John
I am new user with an interest in plasma cutting. I need to replace a Torchmate 3 (Flashcut 3) based table controller with something more reliable and robust. I will need a full featured torch height control built into my desired controller solution (I am done with closed stand alone THCs). So far I have not found a single full featured torch height control implementation here but I will keep looking. If I decide to go ahead and use a LinuxCNC based solution I hope I will be able to find others here to collaborate with or mentor me through the process. I am good with electrical/electronics, basic C and Python coding, use of CAD and Sheetcam for CAM, and the commercial operation of my plasma cutter for last 4 years. I have a poor grasp of programming GUIs and lower level OS integration. I am attaching a preliminary requirements document I prepared. I welcome any comments, questions or criticisms that anyone may have.
Ok, now for the inevitable newby questions:
1. Which real time extension offers the best option for future growth and base OS flexibility?
2. Can a Mesa 5i25/7i76 combo read a Mesa THCad output?
3. Is a Mesa 7i76E a substitue for the 5i25/7i76 combination?
4. Which GUI is preferred for ease of modification and extension? I will not be using a touch screen. This is an area that I really know next to nothing about and will have many questions.
5. What have I forgotten to ask about?
John
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19 Oct 2015 05:13 #63908
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Newby Plasma Table
Are you a salesman by trade lol?
I use a 5i25 7i76 with THCAD card from Mesa. My plasma in on my Web site gnipsel.com I'm on vacation so I'm reading this on my dumb phone.
JT
I use a 5i25 7i76 with THCAD card from Mesa. My plasma in on my Web site gnipsel.com I'm on vacation so I'm reading this on my dumb phone.
JT
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19 Oct 2015 10:23 #63914
by PCW
Yes, by using the encoder input
Yes
Replied by PCW on topic Newby Plasma Table
2. Can a Mesa 5i25/7i76 combo read a Mesa THCad output?
Yes, by using the encoder input
3. Is a Mesa 7i76E a substitue for the 5i25/7i76 combination?
Yes
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19 Oct 2015 14:50 #63924
by Rick G
To get a feel for it, try sample configurations - by interface - mesa - plasma demo.
Works well with Sheetcam.
Rick G
Replied by Rick G on topic Newby Plasma Table
Same here, There should also be a demo configuration included with linuxcnc.I use a 5i25 7i76 with THCAD card from Mesa.
To get a feel for it, try sample configurations - by interface - mesa - plasma demo.
Works well with Sheetcam.
Rick G
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- islander261
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13 Nov 2015 16:46 #65207
by islander261
Replied by islander261 on topic Newby Plasma Table
Thank you everyone that replied.
I am going to try and see if I can get a LinuxCNC box working. I have the live install DVD and have tried it on two PCs, one must have a bad DVR drive because it intermittently will load and start the other loads and starts quickly. I want to eventually use a Mesa 7i76E card to make a working system. What is the maximum recommended jitter that will work with this card? The one PC I have available is an old Levono M58 and the jitter is up to 250,000 after an overnight run. Time to look for another old PC. I understand that the 7i76E card requires RT-Preempt as the real time system. Is there any reason not to go ahead and make this build under Debian Jesse? I want to use this to control a full featured plasma table. I have been reading through all the plasma related posts I can find on this forum and wiki as well as John T.'s installations and tutorials.
John
I am going to try and see if I can get a LinuxCNC box working. I have the live install DVD and have tried it on two PCs, one must have a bad DVR drive because it intermittently will load and start the other loads and starts quickly. I want to eventually use a Mesa 7i76E card to make a working system. What is the maximum recommended jitter that will work with this card? The one PC I have available is an old Levono M58 and the jitter is up to 250,000 after an overnight run. Time to look for another old PC. I understand that the 7i76E card requires RT-Preempt as the real time system. Is there any reason not to go ahead and make this build under Debian Jesse? I want to use this to control a full featured plasma table. I have been reading through all the plasma related posts I can find on this forum and wiki as well as John T.'s installations and tutorials.
John
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14 Nov 2015 07:40 #65227
by Rick G
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?TroubleShooting
Did you test with Wheezy? Did you also try 10.04? Old hardware may work better with 8.04 but that limits your upgrade path.
Rick G
Replied by Rick G on topic Newby Plasma Table
For your testing have you looked here for latency issues...and the jitter is up to 250,000 after an overnight run
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?TroubleShooting
Did you test with Wheezy? Did you also try 10.04? Old hardware may work better with 8.04 but that limits your upgrade path.
Rick G
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03 Mar 2016 17:24 #70982
by islander261
Replied by islander261 on topic Newby Plasma Table
Hello
I've taken the plunge and am underway with this project!
I have LMDE-2 setup on an old Dell Optiplex 745 following the instructions here:
forum.linuxcnc.org/forum/9-installing-li...debian-8-mint-lmde-2
I have upgrade the kernel to : 4.1.15-rt17mah following a miss mash of instructions. The latency isn't spectacular on this old hardware but I am told it is good enough for for the 7i76E under Preempt-RT.
I have a Mesa 7i76E card arriving from Mesaus tomorrow, a day late but not their fault. A big improvement on the 7 weeks it took to get my TCHad directly from Mesa. I also have a real Intel Pro 100 NIC from Ebay arriving for the real time Ethernet connection.
I am starting a new thread in the CNC Machines section to document this build.
John
I've taken the plunge and am underway with this project!
I have LMDE-2 setup on an old Dell Optiplex 745 following the instructions here:
forum.linuxcnc.org/forum/9-installing-li...debian-8-mint-lmde-2
I have upgrade the kernel to : 4.1.15-rt17mah following a miss mash of instructions. The latency isn't spectacular on this old hardware but I am told it is good enough for for the 7i76E under Preempt-RT.
I have a Mesa 7i76E card arriving from Mesaus tomorrow, a day late but not their fault. A big improvement on the 7 weeks it took to get my TCHad directly from Mesa. I also have a real Intel Pro 100 NIC from Ebay arriving for the real time Ethernet connection.
I am starting a new thread in the CNC Machines section to document this build.
John
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03 Mar 2016 21:27 #70996
by islander261
Replied by islander261 on topic Newby Plasma Table
The Post Office tracking lied! I received my card from Mesaus today on time!
John
John
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