Gmoccapy plasma help

@Rodw,

I was viewing a youtube video about external offset's.
It's amazing !!

It's a very good item to combine with welding robot's to follow actual welding path's.
A company Valk Welding in the Nederland's also does this technique by laser sensor input on
panasonic robot's. But i see the benefit's of external offset's now, after one year. Hihi.

For the plasmaguy it can be difficult to start up. I know. I also started one year ago with zero information. And zero knowlegde of linux.

At the moment i am trying to compile the 64 bit linux version for linuxcnc. Only for one reason.
Draftsight. I think i am the first on trying on single core. But in example it is quad core.
So first i go with the kernel as example. If this works, i will try the latest kernel and will try also a very fast quad core. Step by step is the plan.

The THCUD function works pretty good. The difiicult part is the hal postgui file part to get
the z axis input value and the z axis output value good.

Plasmaguy, wich hardware have you running? Maybe i can help you with setting up the plasma with linuxcnc.

I am almost so far to contact mesa. But i have some work to do.

Grotius, I have just a simple $20 Sainsmart 5 axis BOB, and was attempting to run a Proma 150 THC. However, I threw in the towel on the 150 (for now) and ordered a Proma SD that has a built-in microcontroller that takes control of the Z axis after the arc OK signal comes from my Powermax 45xp and runs independent of LCNC. My intention is to get the 150 going in the near future but for now I need production and that's what the SD should give me until I can make sense of Rodw's component, external offsets, etc.

I see potential for LCNC to run not just my plasma table but also robotic welding and powder coating...so I'm not giving up, it's been frustrating in some ways but I know if I keep slugging along one of these days the light will turn on and I'll just shake my head at myself when I can finally see the simplicity of it all.

Plasmaguy

You do not need to use the external offsets branch with either Proma THC. Look for tommylights threads on a THC that works. I think that will work with one or both units. Tommy is a (the?) real guru about using the Proma THCs. Also look at JT's thcud component as I believe it will work with the Proma units as well. There are also several simulation configurations that should work with the Proma units and give you an example of needed HAL connections. The Promas are the simplest THC to get to work with LinuxCNC. You need to post copies of you .ini and .hal files along with your external wiring if you want help with the connections.

John

Thanks islander, I did post to Tommylight's thread concerning some issues getting his config up and running but haven't gotten a followup response for going on a week. I figure that most posters here are as busy as I am, so while I'm waiting on further feedback I bit the bullet and ordered the Proma SD so I can at least be able to get a workable THC so I don't have to babysit my plasma table while it's cutting. I really want the flexibility I think the 150 will give when I can more up to speed on programming LCNC.

I have a 5 axis test board here with proma 150 with thcud component running. It run's good.

I have spent lot's of time to write my own linuxcnc program in python code. It costed me much energy but at this
moment i think it's a good investment in the future. Now i can beat mach3 and windows in every way.

Grotius, I have just a simple $20 Sainsmart 5 axis BOB, and was attempting to run a Proma 150 THC.

You can use my linux configuration for testing your equipment. It works fine on your above set up.
Let me know.

My goal is to expand the program with rs485 modbus RTU for controlling, this function is working sinds 1 week :
2x analog input ( 1 input is plasma voltage, linked via voltage divider ratio 1:50 )
2x analog output ( plasma power and air pressure for my own brand plasma machine' s)
multiple digital in and outputs.

I have 22 inch touch screen working.
Draftsight is working

Almost i have my goal with linux. But i will investegate the external offset's a little bit for future thc function.
This is an easy function to combine with direct voltage input from plasma inverter in the python code it's easy' er to control.

Grotius,
if you don't mind sharing your linux config that would be very helpful in giving me more clarity how to get my Proma 150 running. Once I see a couple of working configs I can get a better idea of how to make mine work. I tried Tommylights config but was getting Z joint and limit errors that I was unable to resolve after extensive efforts. Trying your working config may be exactly what I need!

Got my Proma SD over the weekend and having decent success with it so far but am ready to get the 150 going so I can have better corner lock abilities. The SD does seem to do well on corners but I'm looking forward to building a rotary tube cutter going soon and I think I will certainly need the 150 with its LCNC driven motion to be effective.

I'm also interested in getting a touchscreen going too..but one thing at a time. Thanks for sharing your background with me, very inspiring. Keep up the great work.