Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
14 Jun 2012 11:47 - 14 Jun 2012 11:50 #20912
by BigJohnT
Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table was created by BigJohnT
A guy on the IRC was asking about some method to align sheets of stock on his plasma table and having a plasma table too sparked my interest in developing this. A suggestion from Andy about using global parameters while chatting on the IRC about ways to do this sparked what I came up with. Lots of sparks flying about it seems...
I added 4 buttons to my PyVCP panel Start Align, Align Y, Align X and Clear Offset. The attached file has the PyVCP code as well as all the rest of the code.
I then added 4 MDI commands to the [HALUI] section of my INI file.
Then I connected the PyVCP buttons to the MDI commands in my postgui.hal file.
Then I created the 4 subroutines that do the actual work when the button is pressed. They are also in the attached zip file.
To align along the Y axis jog to the left rear corner and press Start Align. Next Jog to the left front corner and press Align Y. You set to cut even if the sheet is not perfectly square to the plasma table.
To align along the X axis use the left front and right front corners and the Align X button.
After cutting use the Clear Offset button to do the obvious thing. A note I ASSUME you need to have the rotation cleared before locating the sheet edge...
Enjoy
John
I added 4 buttons to my PyVCP panel Start Align, Align Y, Align X and Clear Offset. The attached file has the PyVCP code as well as all the rest of the code.
I then added 4 MDI commands to the [HALUI] section of my INI file.
[HALUI]
MDI_COMMAND o<start-align> call
MDI_COMMAND o<align-y> call
MDI_COMMAND o<align-x> call
MDI_COMMAND o<clear-offset> callThen I connected the PyVCP buttons to the MDI commands in my postgui.hal file.
# MDI commands start at 00 in the order listed in the ini file.
net align-start halui.mdi-command-00 <= pyvcp.align-start
net align-y halui.mdi-command-01 <= pyvcp.align-y
net align-x halui.mdi-command-02 <= pyvcp.align-x
net clear-offset halui.mdi-command-03 <= pyvcp.clear-offsetThen I created the 4 subroutines that do the actual work when the button is pressed. They are also in the attached zip file.
To align along the Y axis jog to the left rear corner and press Start Align. Next Jog to the left front corner and press Align Y. You set to cut even if the sheet is not perfectly square to the plasma table.
To align along the X axis use the left front and right front corners and the Align X button.
After cutting use the Clear Offset button to do the obvious thing. A note I ASSUME you need to have the rotation cleared before locating the sheet edge...
Enjoy
John
Last edit: 14 Jun 2012 11:50 by BigJohnT.
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15 Jun 2012 09:54 #20950
by Rick G
Replied by Rick G on topic Re:Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
Nice one John, that has got to save time and material. Not to mention trying to physically align a heavy awkward sheet of steel on the table by hand.
I really need to build my plasma table this winter.
Rick G
I really need to build my plasma table this winter.
Rick G
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15 Jun 2012 10:23 #20951
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Re:Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
Thanks,
I found out yesterday even with careful measuring with a tape measure that the 1/4" x 8" HR material I was cutting on was not even with the X axis exactly. After using sheet align all my parts I cut came out great. The cuts were from edge to edge and I had to cut 20 pieces so the material needed to line up to the X. I need to add one thing to my PyVCP panel a readout of the rotation of the coordinate system as a reminder that it is rotated.
John
I found out yesterday even with careful measuring with a tape measure that the 1/4" x 8" HR material I was cutting on was not even with the X axis exactly. After using sheet align all my parts I cut came out great. The cuts were from edge to edge and I had to cut 20 pieces so the material needed to line up to the X. I need to add one thing to my PyVCP panel a readout of the rotation of the coordinate system as a reminder that it is rotated.
John
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22 Jun 2012 12:05 #21192
by Quadro
Replied by Quadro on topic Re:Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
I just had to sign up to the forum to say this is the best 'add on'. No more time wasted aglining sheet maually.
I will be editing my postprocessor so that it cancels the rotation at the end of the file.
Well done BigJohnT
I will be editing my postprocessor so that it cancels the rotation at the end of the file.
Well done BigJohnT
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22 Jun 2012 20:27 #21194
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Re:Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
Quadro,
Thanks
John
Thanks
John
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20 Jan 2013 11:19 #28850
by otto_pjm
Replied by otto_pjm on topic Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
Thanks John,
This is a great subroutine, I don't have our Plasma CNCed yet, but I set it up on my router and it's quite handy, I can see using it to rotate tool paths 90 when I set them up wrong in CAM, in addition to it's intended purpose. Has anybody enhanced this to use touch sensing / probing so we can be even lazier?
Pete
This is a great subroutine, I don't have our Plasma CNCed yet, but I set it up on my router and it's quite handy, I can see using it to rotate tool paths 90 when I set them up wrong in CAM, in addition to it's intended purpose. Has anybody enhanced this to use touch sensing / probing so we can be even lazier?
Pete
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20 Jan 2013 21:47 #28871
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
Not that I know of but it is a good idea for sure.
John
John
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27 Jan 2013 03:22 #29169
by alan_3301
Replied by alan_3301 on topic Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
I have made some changes to use probing. I didnt realize this thread was here, I found the files on the tutorial section of the wiki.
I did post them on the cnczone forum for linuxcnc.
Here they are if anyone wants to look.
I did post them on the cnczone forum for linuxcnc.
Here they are if anyone wants to look.
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27 Jan 2013 03:28 #29170
by alan_3301
Replied by alan_3301 on topic Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
I guess I dont know how to attach files, or zip files arent allowed.
anyways here is the link to the files on cnczone www.cnczone.com/forums/linuxcnc_formerly..._sheet_function.html
I hope thats not against the rules
anyways here is the link to the files on cnczone www.cnczone.com/forums/linuxcnc_formerly..._sheet_function.html
I hope thats not against the rules
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27 Jan 2013 04:09 - 27 Jan 2013 04:14 #29172
by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Sheet Alignment in a Plasma Table
test hmm I can't add a file either...
Last edit: 27 Jan 2013 04:14 by BigJohnT.
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