NativeCAM is Features renamed

FernV wrote:

tommylight wrote:

Well that is correct, in most plasma setups you do not need anything related to z axis, but i know for sure the configs i use do not care if there are Z related codes or not. Some configs do use Z axis, so it is not advisable to remove it completly. Having a button to include or remove Z axis related code would be best.

This option should be set in Preferences dialog. Not sure yet how this exclusion should be implemented how it would work. All videos I viewed use some way of finding the surface.

tommylight wrote:

The configs that do use Z also use some type of G38.x move to find the material and set offsets for every cut so that would need to be added as a preamble that can be edited to suit the needs of different setups. This can be done together with adding M3/M5 to every cut.

The G38.x option should also be set once in the Preferences dialog

Do you think wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Gmoccapy_Plasma should be my starting point ?

tommylight wrote:

Another thing that can be added for plasma use is adding a G04 pause after the M3, that is a pierce delay, and needs to be adjustable in 0.1 second increments from 0 to 1 second ( even more if cutting thick material ).

I think adding this delay should be in 'Cutting Params'
Anything else should be configured ?

I am planning a video but I still need more feedback to help make it really usable.
I think of demo configs using gmoccappy.gmoccapy_plasma and by_interface.mesa.plasma-5i20.

Regards
Fern

Gmoccapy_plasma is a very nice starting point, it has most information on plasma control in one place.
I also read somewhere here about having a lead out from the cut, it would be nice to have it, as the plasma cutters have a nasty habit of "blowback" when they are switched off and shutting the arc, they tend to leave a nice ding ( burn a bit more material that during normal cutting, and the torch is at stand still while switching off), so adding 2-3mm of lead out would provide for cleaner cuts at the start/stop of the cut.
As for videos, have a look at some of mine, they all use a hal implementation done by someone on this forum a long time ago, and it took me quite some time to modify and make it work for all simple THC that use UP/DOWN/ARCOK signals. This is the method described in the gmoccapy_plasma wiki as being to complicated ( and it is to complicated ). Another method mentioned there is a hal component, there is already one made by BigJT for use with THCAD or other THC, it is much easier to modify and understand but if i remember correctly that still needs a sub for finding the material.
It would be nice to have a comp for automating the procedure of finding the material/retracting to pierce height/firing the torch/waiting for arc ok/waiting for pierce delay/moving to cutting height/enable motion. That can be implemented easily in any config by halcompile and a line in the ini file. This also removes the need for any related Z axis code.
From your stand point, i think you already have everything needed, so just to sum it up:
M3/M5 for every cut
Lead in/out for every cut with the inside/outside option for every cut or for all at once
No Z axis values
Kerf compensation ( tool compensation) also with inside/outside option
Preamble and postamble as needed and subs for every cut
Nothing more, as it would make some things easier for some user but more complicated for others.