15m Industrial Plasma Cutter

I think the latest update will fix your issues.

If not could you post the gcode that is causing any problems.

Edit: could you also post the error that it produces.

Hi Phill,

I have made my own G-code conversion tool that seems to be working so far (converting files from inkscape).
All it does is remove the movement Z commands and adds "M3 S1" before the first movement block. Is this too simplistic and should I go about getting the update? I notice for example that THC velocity lock is always on, however the files now load into plasmac and the simulation runs.

Thanks.

You do not need that, there is a plasma tool in Inkscape already, in the gcodetools menu under tools choose plasma. For comfortable use it has to be modified a bit to remove some stuff that is there for probing, but that can also be removed during editing of the drawing.
Here is a quick video with no commentary on how to output gcode for Linuxcnc.

Jarman wrote: Hi Phill,

I have made my own G-code conversion tool that seems to be working so far (converting files from inkscape).
All it does is remove the movement Z commands and adds "M3 S1" before the first movement block. Is this too simplistic and should I go about getting the update? I notice for example that THC velocity lock is always on, however the files now load into plasmac and the simulation runs.

Thanks.

Whatever works for you is good, I would like to find out why the PlasmaC GCode parser is not working for your GCode.

Thanks Tommy, I have already been following that tutorial and using the plasma features of Inkscape. My problem occurred when I tried to open those files in plasmac. My Inkscape files open directly into sample-sim-axis but not plasmac.

I'm struggling to take a screenshot in Linux but when I try to open one of the files in plasmac I get the message:

G code error in spiral.ngc
"Near line 16 of /tmp/tmp9NQ9wK/spiral.ngc
:
Bad character ')' used


If I press "OK", no preview loads but I can see the G code in the bottom right window.
Line 16 reads:

g1 x33.566083 y5.468631 f200.000000 (z-1.000000))

I believe that the second closed bracket is the problem. The brackets are consistent like this throughout the code.

The original line in the code from inkscape reads:

G01 X33.566083 Y5.468631 Z-1.000000 F200.000000

I have created a script that removes the Z term, changing it to:

G01 X33.566083 Y5.468631 F200.000000

This seems to work.


Also, as soon as the plasmac window opens (with no file) I get errors:

PIERCE_HEIGHT is missing from material #0

PIERCE_DELAY is missing from material #0

CUT_HEIGHT is missing from material #0

CUT_SPEED is missing from material #0


But these do not seem to be causing problems.


Thanks.

Would you guys who have built plasma cutters recommend building a small scale model first (Given the size and my lack of experience)? Bearing in mind I don't have a whole lot of time to get this done (not much more that 5 weeks).

Thanks.

Maybe build the short axis first, make a 1D plasma cutter.

You should take Andy's advice and start making the Z axis with floating head, then make the X axis and mount the Z axis to it. That will help a lot when you start the big Y axis.

With the timeframe, I would buy a prebuilt Z axis stage and just make the floating head slide and magnetic breakaway. I know I was doing it in my spare time but it took me 3 months to built the complete Z axis assembly.

G code error in spiral.ngc
"Near line 16 of /tmp/tmp9NQ9wK/spiral.ngc
:
Bad character ')' used
If I press "OK", no preview loads but I can see the G code in the bottom right window.
Line 16 reads:
g1 x33.566083 y5.468631 f200.000000 (z-1.000000))
I believe that the second closed bracket is the problem. The brackets are consistent like this throughout the code.

The parser didn't like the F word in the line, I have fixed it and will push an update later today.

You really should use FF#<_hal[plasmac.cut-feed-rate]> as described here to take advantage of Velocity Anti Dive and you onlt require one F word at the beginning of your code.

Also, as soon as the plasmac window opens (with no file) I get errors:
PIERCE_HEIGHT is missing from material #0
PIERCE_DELAY is missing from material #0
CUT_HEIGHT is missing from material #0
CUT_SPEED is missing from material #0

But these do not seem to be causing problems.

They WILL cause problems when you try to cut, they are mandatory .