Setup for plasma cutting need help
Is the thc something in the plasma cutter machine ?
THC is "Torch Height Control" and is a sensor on the cutter head which measures the distance between the cutter and the workpiece.
There are a number of ways of doing it, including measuring the arc voltage.
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We thought that it was possible to make it with a switch connected to the breakeoutboard (www.zappautomation.co.uk/zp5aint-p-499.html?cPath=143)
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I also see what appears to be a floating torch holder perhaps with a switch for finding material height. If that is the case you want to connect that switch to motion.probe.input in your HAL file. Once you have made the connection to motion.probe.input you can use something like the following to position your torch tip.
G38.2 Z-1.75 (Probe to find the surface)
G91 (Incremental Distance Mode)
G1 Z0.070 (Raise up to Z0 and take out backlash from switch)
G90 (Absolute Distance Mode)
G92 Z0 (Set Z0 for this cut)
G1 Z#1
... (fire torch and cut part)
G92.1 (Remove offset)
Does your Esab Plasma torch have any signals like Arc OK and Arc Voltage?
John
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The cnc table is homemade with a floating tourch holder
And the migatronic is our plasma
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The switch on the floating holder can be connected to your breakout board input then in HAL you connect that input to motion.probe.input like so
net torch-probe motion.probe-input <= parport.0.pin-13-in-not
or what ever pin you wish.
Now you can use the code I posted to find the material top.
John
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net start-motion motion.digital-in-00 <= parport.0.pin-15-in
Of course using what ever in pin you choose.
And in your code after issuing a M3 you do a M66 as shown in the sub below. The following subroutine is what I call after moving to the start position for the cut. It finds the material top, moves to pierce height, starts the torch, waits for Arc Ok then moves to cut height
o<touchoff> sub
(#1 pierce height, #2 pierce delay, #3 cut height)
F10
G38.2 Z-1.75 (Probe to find the surface)
G91
G1 Z0.070 (Raise up to Z0)
G90
G92 Z0 (Set Z0)
G1 Z#1
M3 S1
M66 P0 L1 Q5 (Wait for Arc OK from Torch)
G4 P#2 (Pause for pierce delay)
F25
Z#3 (goto cut height)
o<touchoff> endsub
M2
This is an example of how I call the touchoff subroutine.
(move to start postion)
o<touchoff> call [0.125][0][0.080]
Fn (set cutting speed)
...( cut profile)
M5 (turn off torch)
G92.1 (clear my G92 offset)
G0 Z0 (move the torch up to clearance height)
M2
As for Torch Height Control (THC) I cut for a year without one just by careful placement of my material on the slats and making sure it is flat.
John
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Ok, you can connect that to motion.digital-in and use that to wait for the arc before proceeding with the cut.
If the torch is being controlled as a "spindle" then wouldn't connection to motion.spindle-at-speed automatically pause cutting?
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Good Idea!
John
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Greetings Ricky and Jacky
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