Rods "Spaceship" Scratch built Plasma Cutter build

So here is what we had left...

Efficient use of material ! Nice.

As hobbyist I am very impressed!

rodw wrote:
And for the diehard fanatics here is an extended one.

Rod, Is that video sped up? Or is that real time?

That machine is sure moving!

thefabricator03 wrote:
Rod, Is that video sped up? Or is that real time?

That machine is sure moving!

Yes its in real time 2239 mm/min per the Thermal Dynamics book speed for 40 amps 2mm mild steel. But rapids I think are 21 metres/min.

I did not have any probe errors on that job because the uncut material at the back holding it down but the last 600 x 1200 piece needed a lot of nursing. You might not see it on thicker material but this stuff can warp upwards 40mm plus which means its higher than the probe height so I get a lot of unexpected probe errors before it gets to probe height. Usually I just push the down material flat for the probe but really I think Plasmac could change its probing algorithm to solve this.

What I'd like to see is if probing commences and the probe is hit above the probe height, Plasmac should back up 10mm or so, change its probe height and reprobe for that pierce only. That would make it a lot more automated and more commercially robust. I have mentioned this once before (probably a few months ago when I did this job last!)

What thickness sheet are you cutting?

I cut a bunch of 1.6mm sheet this week and had a similar issue with the warping.

Thats 2mm. It is something Plasmac should handle I think.

rodw wrote: What I'd like to see is if probing commences and the probe is hit above the probe height, Plasmac should back up 10mm or so, change its probe height and reprobe for that pierce only. That would make it a lot more automated and more commercially robust. I have mentioned this once before (probably a few months ago when I did this job last!)

I don't recall that, maybe I missed it.

I do recall that quite a while ago I mentioned that I had some different ideas for probing but I never got any feedback so I lost interest.

Phil, If you add those changes that Rod suggested, I am more than happy to test it out. I have a ton of 1.6mm sheet offcuts I can use to test.

phillc54 wrote: I don't recall that, maybe I missed it.

I do recall that quite a while ago I mentioned that I had some different ideas for probing but I never got any feedback so I lost interest.

I did not really understand how Plasmac worked back then.
Well with a bit of luck Stefan and I can convince you to regain your interest.