setup qtplasmac

What OP is asking is a Hypertherm HD feature for cutting thick material, so probe, go to lets call it "transfer" height usually 2 to 3mm, start the torch, as soon as it gets arcok it moves up another mm or two to awoid splashback to the nozzle, then slowly moves down during the pierce delay time to reach the cut height, then moves on to normal cutting.

I seem to recall quite some time back I asked whether it would be worthwhile adding this but from memory the consensus was that it wasn't really required.

Edit: found it  forum.linuxcnc.org/plasma-laser/35449-an...nent?start=70#120725

Yup, me too, but cutting 20mm plates with plasma is the "industrial" domain requiring 5 and 6 figure price tags.
Had several instances of trying to cut that with say 120A used and cheap plasma source, it can be done, but the results are usually disapointing, and nozzles run out rather quickly.
On the other hand, adding an Oxy Acetylene torch to the plasma machine does that easily and with style!
Depending on the torch, up to 160mm thickness can be cut with good results.
Edit:
Here i can find Oxy torches that can do 100mm for 190 Euro new, gas tanks are a bit more pricy

I'd echo the sentiment of using QtPlasmaC for a bit, and see what you actually end up needing.  Likely much of the functionality already exists; there's been a lot of input from a wide range of users, ranging from hobbyists to industrial businesses over the last few years. 

That said, it is usually worth at least considering/discussing new ideas.

tommylight wrote:

Yup, me too, but cutting 20mm plates with plasma is the "industrial" domain requiring 5 and 6 figure price tags.
On the other hand, adding an Oxy Acetylene torch to the plasma machine does that easily and with style!

 

yes -  for thicker material is better use oxy Acetylene. in the future i would like to be able to replace the plasma torch with oxy acetylene. I'm currently studying how to set it all up.

Martin

The final decision for the ARC override was made on the keyboard and the plus, minus and reset keys on external panel.
I modified the handler a bit. Now I am happy with this solution.

---

share/qtvcp/screens/qtplasmac/qtplasmac_handler.py

---

index 56cf3f251..cfcda3a5b 100644
@@ -432,6 +432,9 @@ class HandlerClass:
         self.colorFgPin = self.h.newpin('color_fg', hal.HAL_S32, hal.HAL_OUT)
         self.cutTypePin = self.h.newpin('cut_type', hal.HAL_S32, hal.HAL_IN)
         self.heightOverridePin = self.h.newpin('height_override', hal.HAL_FLOAT, hal.HAL_OUT)
+        self.heightOverridePinPlus = self.h.newpin('height_override_plus', hal.HAL_BIT, hal.HAL_IN)
+        self.heightOverridePinMinus = self.h.newpin('height_override_minus', hal.HAL_BIT, hal.HAL_IN)
+        self.heightOverridePinReset = self.h.newpin('height_override_reset', hal.HAL_BIT, hal.HAL_IN)
         self.laserOnPin = self.h.newpin('laser_on', hal.HAL_BIT, hal.HAL_OUT)
         self.materialChangePin = self.h.newpin('material_change', hal.HAL_S32, hal.HAL_IN)
         self.materialChangeNumberPin = self.h.newpin('material_change_number', hal.HAL_S32, hal.HAL_IN)
@@ -1248,6 +1251,15 @@ class HandlerClass:
         self.heightOverridePin.set(self.heightOvr)
         self.w.height_ovr_label.setText('{:.2f}'.format(self.heightOvr))
 
+    def heightOverridePinIn (self,state,value):
+        if state:
+            if value:
+                self.heightOvr += value * self.w.thc_threshold.value()
+            else:
+                self.heightOvr = 0
+        if self.heightOvr > 10 : self.heightOvr = 10
+        if self.heightOvr < -10 : self.heightOvr = -10
+
     def touch_xy_clicked(self):
         self.touch_off_xy(0, 0)
         self.w.gcodegraphics.logger.clear()
@@ -1813,6 +1825,9 @@ class HandlerClass:
         self.w.laser.pressed.connect(self.laser_pressed)
         self.w.main_tab_widget.currentChanged.connect(lambda w:self.main_tab_changed(w))
         self.zHeightPin.value_changed.connect(lambda v:self.z_height_changed(v))
+        self.heightOverridePinPlus.value_changed.connect(lambda v:self.heightOverridePinIn(v,1))
+        self.heightOverridePinMinus.value_changed.connect(lambda v:self.heightOverridePinIn(v,-1))
+        self.heightOverridePinReset.value_changed.connect(lambda v:self.heightOverridePinIn(v,0))
         self.plasmacStatePin.value_changed.connect(lambda v:self.plasmac_state_changed(v))
         self.w.feed_label.pressed.connect(self.feed_label_pressed)
         self.w.rapid_label.pressed.connect(self.rapid_label_pressed)

Martin