My Newb Plasma Table Attempted Build

Ah well about that lol...I got lost trying to figure out how to use halscope.

There is a bit of a tutorial that may be of help.

linuxcnc.org/docs/html/hal/tutorial.html#_halscope

I cut out several parts and followed that link to the instructions for halscope. I just can't get the dang thing to sample right or something. Also I don't have a signal listed for plasmac.axis z (the others are there). Halscope ran but I have no idea what the hell it's up to. I give up at this point.

Until you get the hang of halscope, just set it to normal and roll up the top right. Also you have to scale things right or they will be to big to fit on the screen. Start with the vertical scale to be 50/div so to vertical lines will be 100 volts. Sometimes 20/div will also fit in. as far as the horizontal goes, 200 ms/div is a good setting.

dvn4life1972 wrote: I cut out several parts and followed that link to the instructions for halscope. I just can't get the dang thing to sample right or something. Also I don't have a signal listed for plasmac.axis z (the others are there). Halscope ran but I have no idea what the hell it's up to. I give up at this point.

It is worthwhile perservering with it.
You could use plasmac.offset-current rather than plasmac.axis-z-position it will still let us know what the axis is supposed to be doing.

You guys are always great. I fully believe it's something I've done and/or something I'm doing wrong. Since my post of frustration earlier I've cut some more parts and used THC (haha).

It seems the faster the cut, on the longer cuts because that's when it flips out, the less it acts strange. I cut the same parts from some 16ga (was cutting from 10ga) at 230ipm and the THC seemed to work very well. So, I went back to 10ga and slower speed of 130ipm and towards the end if the border cut - the longest one - it slowly and continuously went upward.

I'm spent for the day. I'll give halscope another go tomorrow. I have some paying work stacking up now and it's 18ga and 20ga. I hope this crap gets resolved soon.

Are the cut feed rates you are using from the cut charts?

Well, sorta. I'm running 60A consumables and the chart doesn't have anything for 16ga. I'm going to pick up some fine cut consumables in the morning which will mean much slower speeds.

Wherever I've found info in the charts I've been at or very close to hypertherms recommendations.

What machine is it and are you cutting at 60A?

Hypertherm Powermax 1000 g3, and yes 60A.