Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
- mariusl
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08 Jul 2022 10:21 #246854
by mariusl
Regards
Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware? was created by mariusl
Hi
I have been asked to convert two plasma machines that run on Mach3 to PlasmaC. There is no question about that but now I found that I cannot get 7i76E or THCAD10 cards from Mesa. The machines have a parallel port driven UP/DOWN THC controller. The cut level is set manually via a potentiometer.
The question is, is it worth the effort to convert to PlasmaC using this kind of hardware and if it is worth the effort what functionality will I loose?
Or does anyone know of an alternative to Mesa hardware?
I have been asked to convert two plasma machines that run on Mach3 to PlasmaC. There is no question about that but now I found that I cannot get 7i76E or THCAD10 cards from Mesa. The machines have a parallel port driven UP/DOWN THC controller. The cut level is set manually via a potentiometer.
The question is, is it worth the effort to convert to PlasmaC using this kind of hardware and if it is worth the effort what functionality will I loose?
Or does anyone know of an alternative to Mesa hardware?
Regards
Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
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- snowgoer540
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08 Jul 2022 15:50 #246875
by snowgoer540
Replied by snowgoer540 on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
Unsure of your location and the exact number of I/Os, etc, but maybe you could use the THCAD2 and 7i96s?
Also, there are plenty of plasmac machines being run on parallel ports. Mode 2 also accommodates external THCs.
Also, there are plenty of plasmac machines being run on parallel ports. Mode 2 also accommodates external THCs.
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- tommylight
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08 Jul 2022 16:04 #246879
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
Parallel ports are looking rather appealing lately, had to dust off some old PC's a few days back.
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- PCW
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08 Jul 2022 23:29 - 08 Jul 2022 23:29 #246919
by PCW
Replied by PCW on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
THCAD-10s and THCAD-5s, and THCAD2s are all available from Mesa.
Unless you need a lot of I/O, a 7I96S is better suited to plasma applications than a 7I76E.
(We will have some 7I76Es in a month or so but are still constrained by parts availability)
Unless you need a lot of I/O, a 7I96S is better suited to plasma applications than a 7I76E.
(We will have some 7I76Es in a month or so but are still constrained by parts availability)
Last edit: 08 Jul 2022 23:29 by PCW. Reason: formatting
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- mariusl
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10 Jul 2022 14:41 #247017
by mariusl
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Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
Replied by mariusl on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
Hi Peter,
That is good news indeed. I will have a look at that combination as I don't have a lot of I/O. Everything is currently handled by two parallel ports. I will be in touch shortly.
That is good news indeed. I will have a look at that combination as I don't have a lot of I/O. Everything is currently handled by two parallel ports. I will be in touch shortly.
Regards
Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
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- Todd Zuercher
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11 Jul 2022 02:06 #247048
by Todd Zuercher
Replied by Todd Zuercher on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
Linuxcnc can run it just using parallel ports to. If you want to.
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- mariusl
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11 Jul 2022 07:07 #247061
by mariusl
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Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
Replied by mariusl on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
I know that very well. I was asking about PlasmaC functionality that I will forfeit if I use UP/DOWN THC on a parallel port.Linuxcnc can run it just using parallel ports to. If you want to.
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Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
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- phillc54
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11 Jul 2022 07:35 #247062
by phillc54
Replied by phillc54 on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
Mode 2 has the following inhibited:
GUI arc voltage display
Height override
Void anti dive
PID control of THC speed - it does have rudimentry speed control.
GUI arc voltage display
Height override
Void anti dive
PID control of THC speed - it does have rudimentry speed control.
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- mariusl
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11 Jul 2022 07:53 #247063
by mariusl
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Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
Replied by mariusl on topic Convert from Mach 3 with OLD hardware?
Most of those are important functions. I will propose that we use the Mesa hardware instead.
Regards
Marius
www.bluearccnc.com
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