QtPlasmaC v2.9 do not wait for the time in parameter "Start Fail Timer"

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18 Dec 2024 19:48 #316927 by Diel
Hi everyone.
I am setting up a Plasma Cutter with QtPlasmaC v2.9 in mode 2 with one parallel port and step motors and a Hypertherm PowerMax 105.
The configuration is working fine but I am having a hard time with the ARC OK signal as the message of "valid arc lost" keep showing up.
It looks like it does not wait the time set on parameter "Start Fail Timer" after turning the torch on to turn on the message. It also does not try to turn on the torch again after the time set on parameter "Retry Delay" not even once (even with the parameter "Max Starts" set to 3.
As outputs I just configure the axis motors and Plasma Torch ON.
As inputs I have ESTOP IN, Plasma Float Switch, Plasma Move Up, Plasma Move Down and Plasma Arc OK.
It does have to be able to wait for the Arc OK signal and try to restart the plasma if the signal does not show up

Any information will be helpfull to find out where I have a problem with my configuration.

Thank you all.
 

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18 Dec 2024 23:00 #316958 by tommylight
Moved to PlasmaC section.
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It looks like it does not wait the time set on parameter "Start Fail Timer" after turning the torch on to turn on the message. It also does not try to turn on the torch again after the time set on parameter "Retry Delay" not even once (even with the parameter "Max Starts" set to 3.
 

You are looking in the wrong place, that is all valid if arcOK is not detected
In your case it is detected and lost, and this almost always happens due to interference from lack of proper grounding and shielding, so that is the first thing to check, recheck and only when those are OK move on to other stuff.
One thing that helps with troubleshooting is setting a bit of delay for the ARCOK signal in hal.

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19 Dec 2024 03:14 #316968 by snowgoer540
If this is happening at the end of cuts, it’s generally caused by the arc going out either because the slug dropped or the material was already cut while the machine still has some distance to move before reaching the M5.

If that’s the case, then you can set a lost arc delay as described here:

linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/plasma/qtpl...html#_lost_arc_delay

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25 Dec 2024 21:13 #317371 by Diel
Thank you very much for the reply.
Everything does work fine and I am do have proper grounding and shielding.
What really happens is:
The Hipertherm PowerMax 105, when it turns it off the plasma, it have a overflux cicle for about 20 seconds that sends air pressure through the torch (for colling purpouses). During this overflux cycle of the plasma souce, it does not work to close the contact to turn the plasma ON again. The first try just reduce the air flow but it does not start the arc. It needs to turn the relay off and then ON again to start the plasma (or we have to wait the overflux to end).
When doing some small cuts as little holes arond a circle it takes too much time to wait for the overflux after every little hole. That is why we are trying to get the retries to turn the plasma ON to work.
The tests I was doing were without the plasma source itself. I was using the contact of the relay used to turn on the plasma to indicate arc OK to LinuxCNC. On the other hand I installed a push button in serial conection to avoid the ok signal to be send to Linux. Linux sets the alarm right after reading the M3 and setting the relay. It does not wait to set up the alarm as well it does not retry to turn the relay on again.
Any information on how to use this resource will help a lot.
Thank you.

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25 Dec 2024 21:16 #317372 by Diel
Thank you very much for the reply. I will check the procedure to set lost arc delay. I believe it will be very helpful.
Everything does work fine and I am do have proper grounding and shielding.
What really happens is:
The Hipertherm PowerMax 105, when it turns it off the plasma, it have a overflux cicle for about 20 seconds that sends air pressure through the torch (for colling purpouses). During this overflux cycle of the plasma souce, it does not work to close the contact to turn the plasma ON again. The first try just reduce the air flow but it does not start the arc. It needs to turn the relay off and then ON again to start the plasma (or we have to wait the overflux to end).
When doing some small cuts as little holes arond a circle it takes too much time to wait for the overflux after every little hole. That is why we are trying to get the retries to turn the plasma ON to work.
The tests I was doing were without the plasma source itself. I was using the contact of the relay used to turn on the plasma to indicate arc OK to LinuxCNC. On the other hand I installed a push button in serial conection to avoid the ok signal to be send to Linux. Linux sets the alarm right after reading the M3 and setting the relay. It does not wait to set up the alarm as well it does not retry to turn the relay on again.
Any information on how to use this resource will help a lot.
Thank you.

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