Is someone using Gmoccapy Plasma ?

I`m building a plasma cutter at the moment and it should run with linuxcnc. I found the nice Gmoccapy Plasma version, but no detailed install instructions.

In the wiki it is only writting the correct files to copy and the changes to made will be told later, but i cannot find anything more about it.

Gmoccapy is running fine. Can someone help me to get the plasma version running?


Linux CNC 2.6.8 from ISO file including unbuntu
THC from Proma
Steering: Benezans Triple Beast with stepper Motors
Cutter: Stahlwerk PCut 120

thanks in advance for help

Michael

May be Marius can give you a Hand, i only did the surface.

Could you start gmoccapy plasma as sim from the config folder?

Norbert

yes, the sim is working properly, i think i just need to know what files to copy and what to change

You have to make a normal xyz axis config using Stepconf or Pncconf. Then make sure that is running.
What I do is open both the new ini file and the sim ini file.
Then copy the sim [DISPLAY] stuff over the Axis.ini file {DISPLAY] contents.
Then you need the plasma.py, plasma.hal and plasma.glade files in your config directory.
You also need the signal.py, signal.glade and signal.hal in your config directory.

This should all startup and run. From here you implement your particular THC choice by using the builtin THCUD component or you write your own for your system.
The plasma screen contains many controls that cater for a complex software controlled THC or a simple hardware bit bang THC solution. As I said the choice of THC is yours.

Tell us what your choice of THC is going to be and I will elaborate on that.

OK I see you are using the Proma. That is a simple bit bang system and you can use the THCUD component. Look at the man page for the THCUD to get a good idea of what signals you need. The Proma works very well and has very little problems.

Thanks for your help so far. I will try and keep you updated

Michael
You can also read some here

Plasma Wiki

yes i know, but there no details about the files needed, only the hint, that it will told later

All the files you need are in the sim config. You just need to find out how to go from sim to your specific production config. That unfortunately is the hassle we all have to deal with when we set up custom machine control software. And because every builder makes his own machine in the way that he wants, we cannot supply complete information to cover all possible options.
I always start with sim and then copy into my config as I need.

There is a saying - Opensource is free but not cheap.

so it seems a little bit tricky to hook up all the THC signals an get the thc running.

And ..
What do you use for the floating switch input, and how to touch off the Z-Plane?

Do i need to write a Hal Component or is there an existing one to use

BR

Michael

You can use the THCUD existing component as it works well.
The touchoff or floating switch can be used on the prob input or the homing input. The preferred method is the probe input as you then use G38.x in your gcode. I use Sheetcam for the plasma gcode generation and it has the correct post processor file to use.