Tormach Plasma

Have you seen the PlasmaC configuration? linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/plasma/plasmac-user-guide.html

phillc54 wrote: Have you seen the PlasmaC configuration? linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/plasma/plasmac-user-guide.html

X 2

You really need to read the Linuxcnc Docs linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/
Then you will see that there is a plasma primer linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/plasma/plasma-cnc-primer.html that attempts to correct all of the misconceptions you have.

Going down a few lines on the main screen you will find a link to the Plasmac Configuration which Phill linked to previously.

As Tommy noted, there is absolutely no way an external THC can achieve what Plasmac and the $100k commercial tables can do. That 100% including UCNC based plasma systems. But Plasmac supports your Proma external THC so there is no need to miss out..

And for the record, an associate that contracts machining for Tormach told me he spied a plasma cutter in their R&D lab so don't give out hope.

Well that is interesting What do you think a commercial Plasma cutter can do that a DIY hobbiest needs to have . After gas/plasma cutting for well over 20 years I am interested in your comments on plasma cutting.

Is the PlasmaC version ready to go. Just install teh software and hook up the inputs and outs ??

Yes I am aware of the possiblities of a Tormach Plasma table. It is not written in stone yet.

( TP

Tommy your PlasmaC is an interesting package. I don't see where it talks to a plasma power supply .Does it do that as well ? low end Hypertherm units talk modbus ASCII.

Does it come packaged ready to go ? Install teh package and you are ready to setup the I/O ?? Or do you have to jump throught teh normal LinuxCNC hoops to get it to work??

( TP

Not mine, PhillC did most of it.
It comes with Linuxcnc 2.8 and 2.9 so nothing to install there, and it also has a nice and easy configurator made by Phill for setting pins. It can also talk to plasma power, there are some threads discussing that here, but i do not know if anyone is using it for that.
It is by far the most complete and capable plasma control.

If its in the docs, its included in a default install of linuxcnc
It comes with a Simulator so you can see what it does without building a machine.
Installation is a 4 part process.
1. Install linuxcnc from the ISO
2.. upgrade to V 2.8 or V2.9 (master branch V2.9 is probably the easiest)
3. Build a basic working config that does XYZ movement.
4. Run the Plasmac Configurator to add all of the plasma specific connections

In short, its arguably the easiest linuxcnc package to install as not one other system comes with a configurator!

If you are a Sheetcam or Fusion360 user, there is a provided script to copy your post processor config into Plasmac. Post processors are available for both of those CAM systems.

Plasmac supports various modes including one that supports external THC's like your Proma but the full power is not unleashed until you are using Mesa Hardware and their THCAD board to introduce torch voltage into Linuxcnc.

Re Hypertherm RS485 there is a component that predates Plasmac called hpmx that will be found somewhere on this forum. Phill was working with theFabricator03, a commercial user of Plasmac to incorporate it into Plasmac. I thought they had got as far as testing it but I don't think its been released.

I think just about everybody who was doing plasma with Linuxcnc have thrown out their configs (myself included) and adopted Plasmac which has benefited from our collective experience because Phill has had this ability to distill all of our ideas into one cohesive system. Heck Phill even introduced a basic shape library built into the Plasmac GUI this week.