Hypersensing questions

Yeh I drilled a hole this morning when I should not have with the pulse. So go to max Z would be required.

I was actually going to ask you about adding a couple more fields for the component. Maybe there was an ini setting or a configurator option to "Use Hypersensing with THCAD-5" that allow setting the mode. eg HYPERSENSE=1 (mode 1)
If set, allow editing the upper and lower thresholds and display the THCAD ohmic voltage. Hide the low threshold if mode 1
But wait until we get this working and I get the component tidied up.

All of this is messing with my plans !
Very often when cutting i have the torch submerged in water completely, so probing, ignition and cutting all take place under water. My plan was to do the same with HyperSensing, it still is, and i am willing to sacrifice a DVM to the goods of water and electricity to try to make it work, with a resistor to lower the sensitivity and ............. well i do not know yet, still waiting for the Mesa's.......
@Rod,
Finding a software solution to a hardware problem is never easy, but somehow you did just that with just minor hardware help.
BTW, since you are still experimenting with this, could one of you change the input resistor to something smaller and use a 5V power supply for ohmic sensing? I would like to see how that plays out. Resistor value ..... brought to you by PCW !

Tommy, I might be wrong but I was asked about submerged cutting earlier today. I did not think it would work as I figured it would trigger as the torch hit the water surface. So it will be interesting to see if you can make it work. If anybody can, you will.

I'm not sure about the 5 volt. The isolated power supply I'm using comes in 5,12,15,24 and 48 volt versions so it would be pretty easy to play with it but you'd need to calculate the scaling resistance per the THCAD manual when you change the voltage. I think I have a second 24v one here so was thinking of joining them in series and testing with 48v but heck its working for me..

Sorry if a not plasma guy asks:
As i understand your ohmic sensing you always fiffle with voltage. But for me the real question of a "touche on metal" is that then i can see a big current.
To have it complicated i would try to give my probe a high (eventually ac) voltage to breaktrough a oxydised surface and than detect a real current. And i would seperate my probing sensorik via real big distance contacting relais, eventually made myself via pneumatic...
m5c
Mike

rodw wrote: I'm not sure about the 5 volt. The isolated power supply I'm using comes in 5,12,15,24 and 48 volt versions so it would be pretty easy to play with it but you'd need to calculate the scaling resistance per the THCAD manual when you change the voltage. I think I have a second 24v one here so was thinking of joining them in series and testing with 48v but heck its working for me..

As it stands now, for this use case, less voltage = better, and since it will be off during arc strike and cutting, not much interference to worry about.
@Mike,
Most of this isolation for probing is safety, normally the shield never sees the high voltage besides a small induced part that is very easy to deal with, the issue becomes serious if some dust manages to short the shield and the nozzle. Water will be expelled at the start of the cut as all plasma cutters will first turn on air, then strike and arc.

Mike_Eitel wrote: Sorry if a not plasma guy asks:
As i understand your ohmic sensing you always fiffle with voltage. But for me the real question of a "touche on metal" is that then i can see a big current.
To have it complicated i would try to give my probe a high (eventually ac) voltage to breaktrough a oxydised surface and than detect a real current. And i would seperate my probing sensorik via real big distance contacting relais, eventually made myself via pneumatic...
m5c
Mike

Its really only this thread that discusses voltage in relation to probing. Everybody else is using relays. Plasma is a very hostile environment and compounded where there is water splashing around. By using a THCAD to read the voltage with a component that creates the pin used for probe input, we have a lot more control over the probing process to manage that hostile environment. Plus we have a simpler circuit that is much tougher than a couple of relays. But you can blame PCW it was his idea!