Hey Guys,
When cutting the torch goes all the way up basically to the Home height then lowers to cut the next hole. Is there a setting to change this during the cutting process?
Also looking for some help on lead ins and delay before the torch moves after first peirce. Cut some large circles like washers to test the machine and definately need to figure out lead ins.
Also does anyone besides me use sheetcam?

Ed

SheetCam allows automatic lead-ins during the definition of any closed object cut process. First group (called "layers") similar cuts together and then define the toolpath for each layer using a plasma "tool" where you can define the pierce height, initial cut height and kerf width (offset), etc. You can elect to make all of the cuts in the layer on-line (no offset), inside or outside (closed objects only) and with an inside or ouside cut you can define a lead-in type (arc, tangent, perpendicular) and length. SheetCAM has "smart" lead-ins meaning that it will take your parameters and do it's best to cut everything in the layer that way but will shorten lead-ins in order to get them inside an object. No coloring outside the lines is allowed.

Pierce delay can be built into the plasma tool parameters in SHeetCAM. Only problems is that it varies with the state of the torch (hot or cold) and the material. A better way to do that is use an "Arc Good" signal that comes from the plasma unit and automatically pauses the machine until a valid arc is established. The control software has to be able to take a "pause" signal in and hold all machine motion unitl you get a valid arc. It's pretty easy to develop an Arc Good signal but without software that you can interface it to it is not usable.

Lead-in's for circles are part science and part art. The perpendicular works the best for inside circle cuts and the smaller the circle the slower you want the feedrate.

Sheetcam has an interesting post for automatic pierce height sensing based on the distance traveled but it proabably won't work with the Dynatorch THC.

In SheetCAM there is a parameter called "rapid height". It controls how far up the Z lifts between each cut but if the control software (g-code) is not moving the Z (e.g. as with a standalone THC lifter) then those parameters have to come from the THC itself. I'm sure the guys at DT can tell you how to set that parameter.

I initially had the same problem with wasting time raising and lowering the torch. I never found a setting to adjust this, so I just lowered the torch in the holder. Mine is probably 3-4" off the table now. I built a 5x10 table and only typically run 4x8 sheets, so I just place the sheet in the middle of the table, square to the front edge, and re-zero the torch at the corner of the sheet.

I don't use sheetcam, so my issues may be different. However, it seems like my torch pauses maybe 1/2 second after pierce, before it starts the cut. My Dynatorch settings all say zero second delay, but it seems like it delays anyway. Wish I could adjust this out, as it makes too big of a hole.

I have also had some problems with my offset/vector/nesting software, where the torch will just randomly take off on a wild arc. Leon from Dynatorch thinks it is a rounding error between the vector software (Enroute) and the Dynatorch software - one uses 3 decimal places and the other uses 4. He thinks that sometimes it doesn't match up line segments, so the torch just wanders off. Hopefully can get that resolved soon.

Ric,
Greg told me to call leon and ask, he seems to think there is a setting to change the height between each cut, but ive been swamped and havent had time to call. (think i bothered them enough over the past few days)
I am using sheetcam and have had great success with it so far. Some of the options in sheetcam dont change the settings on Dyna software, but I found if the correct SP-IPM and TH is set it works great. (so far) I actually like the pause before gantry movement, before it would move right away and almost crash then pop up to finish the cut. Also i finally slowed down in corners and small runs less then 1.5 inches and man did that help.
Ordered 900 worth of steel today, so looks like ill be cutting company parts all weekend!!! Im defiantely impressed and having very small issues or should I say learning curves.

Ed

Ric,
Greg told me to call leon and ask, he seems to think there is a setting to change the height between each cut, but ive been swamped and havent had time to call. (think i bothered them enough over the past few days)
I am using sheetcam and have had great success with it so far. Some of the options in sheetcam dont change the settings on Dyna software, but I found if the correct SP-IPM and TH is set it works great. (so far) I actually like the pause before gantry movement, before it would move right away and almost crash then pop up to finish the cut. Also i finally slowed down in corners and small runs less then 1.5 inches and man did that help.
Ordered 900 worth of steel today, so looks like ill be cutting company parts all weekend!!! Im defiantely impressed and having very small issues or should I say learning curves.

Ed
Hey Edward,
You didnt bother us at all!!! If anybody has a question or needs any kind of support with our machine all they gotta do is ask!!!

edwardpic

Normally the height control has got a parameter called partial or full. They means how long you want the torch goes up in the end of cut. If you choose partial then you set other paramenter inside the device informing the value you want the torch goes up partially. If you you choose full, the torch goes up to the home position. I dont know the device to control the height during cut you are using but please check that with the manufacturer or in manual.

Hey guys,
Mike from Dyna emailed me direct. He gave the the parameters to set in the software so the torch does not raise all the way up between cuts. Its easy to change and works well so far.
Now, I need to get with Mike and Les at sheetcam to work out some bugs. I can bring a drawing in, set the kerf, height etc, but the Dyna software still gets lost or will move to the first lead in, the torch lowers and fires but then turns right off, the gantry still moves like its cutting, but no fire. Once I received a invalid parameter message. I really hope I can get the bugs worked out because sheetcam is an awesome program and easy for us newbies. Ill keep eveyone posted. Dyna has been GREAT so far, and I am sure this too will be resolved.

Ed

Edwardpic, thanks for the updates. Bossfrog, did you decide to purchase an air dryer for your system? I had given it some thought also. Hopefully it will solve your problem with short consumable life...

Joe - Yep, I ordered an Eaton dryer for $500 plus a coalescing filter. I plan to set up the coalescing filter shortly after the compessor to take out the majority of the water, then the refrigerated dryer, then a desiccant filter just in front of the plasma. Hopefully this will improve my consumable life.

Ed- I would like more info on how so change the torch so it doesn't go all the way up every time. DT just told me to lower it in the holder...

Ric,
Sure thing I will post the answer in here when I get back to the shop and my saved mail, was sent to my business email. Sounds like you have an awesome dryer system coming. I ended up going with a 3 stage system, this way no electrical connection, I have no water-oil at all in the system.
I'll have that torch height info for you Monday.
I am working with Les at sheetcam to get the settings correct and be able to use the multiple part nesting-will post progress on that as well next week.

Ed

Ric,
Heres the answer to the torch raising all the way up between cuts. I set mine exactly the way Mike said and I love it.

"When cutting the torch goes all the way up basically to the Home height
> then lowers to cut the next hole. Is there a setting to change this
> during the cutting process?"
>
> There are several ways to do this.
> The simplest one is to go to the " "Setup"- "machine settings", then to
> the "Homing tab".
> On the homing tab there will be an "offset" for the Torch homing. This
> is how far away the torch moves to and calls "home" after it sensed the
> top of the slide travel. The default is 1/4" If you set this value to,
> let's say, 2.5". Then, during homing the torch will go to the top of the
> slide searching for the end of travel, when it hits the top, it will
> move down 2.5" and call that "home". Now when you cut, the torch will
> retract only to the "home" position between cuts. Which could be only
> 1/2" above the part.


Ed

I will try this - thanks. I think it will have basically the same effect as lowering the torch in the holder, except that you can raise the torch higher once it is at "home".