Hello,

I'm in the final stages of setting up my slightly used PlasmaCAM and can't seem to figure out how to get the DHC to work. It is sensing varying material height once cutting, but when it is supposed to sense the height just prior to cutting, it pushes the torch fairly hard to the material, stops, then states it can't find the material. Is there a sensitivity adjustment for the DHC? Something else I'm missing?

Sorry I can't help this time. I have the new DHC2 and have never ran a DHC machine.

Have you been to the Plasmapig Yahoo group site??

I also have the DHC2 -- it's only 7 months old. I have not yet visited the Plasmapig Yahoo group -- looks like I'll have to create a Yahoo email address first.

Does your torch have the ohmic sensing parts? If not that's the problem.

Hmmmm...ohmic sensing parts...don't know...any suggestions as to how to find out?

Thanks,

- Bill

What brand/model plasma cutter do you have? Are you sure you have the DHC2 system?

If you have a Hyperthem PM1000 and DHC2 i can help you out.

I have a Miller Spectrum 375 and, yes, the nameplate says DHC2 on it.

Ohmic sensing is used on the DHC2 system. It uses a ground circuit to detect the surface of the metal you are cutting. You should have a single black wire that comes out of the carriage motor (Yaxis). It would connect to the front of your torch consumable set.

I have a Hypertherm Powermax 1000. Hypertherm has a specific "Mechanized" Retaining cap and Shield. See this link http://www.hypertherm.com/en/Products_and_Services/Mechanized_Plasma/Air_Plasma/powermax1000.jsp?v=torch (click on the "torch and consumables" tab). Parts 2A and 13 are used. The black wire attaches to part 2A and then when assembled the lower part of the tab connects to the shield.

I have no idea if Miller has these parts avaliable. I have heard some people have made a ring that is held on to the torch with a hose clamp that does the same thing. It may look a little hokey but it would work.

Well, I'm getting closer, and your parts drawing is confirming my problem. I can touch the wire manually during the sense operation and it works perfectly. However, when attached permanently to the torch tip, it thinks it is already touching the material. My retaining cap (your 2A) is NOT a conductive material, and I think that may be the problem....

Ok guys same problem. I have the DHC2 with the hyperterm 1000. I also have the ohmic cap and the shielded omic tip. Used te machine today for the first time. Cut 1/16 with the fine tip no problem (did Great) switched to 1/4 steel changed to te 60 amp tip and nothing. dives down tap 3 or 4 times says no material sensed checked the wire removed the tip wiped off put back on same thing. It did while "dummy cutting" torch not on start to cut first time or 2 I tried it but it would say contact made with material. I watched it no contact was made. but now it wont sense it at all. HELP oh yeah I went in and chagend the cut speed to 50 ipm pierce eight .2 time 2.o cut height .116 sound about right. NEED HELP guys got parts to cut and still to new to do much trouble shooting

I have a DHC2 with a Hypertherm Powermax45....when you get the error code "material not sensed"...it could be a few different issues. Here are afew possibilities:

1. Dirty front of the shield.....this must be clean enough to make electrical contact with the plate.
2. Shield shorted to nozzle....this can occur from piercing too close....remove the shield and clean the inside and also wipe off the front of the nozzle...look carefully for any steel that is in between these two parts. The shield and nozzle are supposed to be electrically isolated from each other.
3.Bad wire connection to the ohmic retaining cap/shield.
4. Improper settings (under settings tab in PlasmaCam) for a. material thickness, b. pierce height, c. recalibrate height between cuts
5. Badly crudded slats. I keep a short ground cable with a clamp to attach directly to the material I am cutting. One end is bolted to the slat frame...the other end has a welding clamp on it. This is especially important if you are cutting thin material or cutting parts from a small piece that may not get a good ground to the slats.
6. Rusty plate surface.....or has primer or other non conductive coatings: clean the suface so it is conductive.

You should also join the Yahoo PlasmaPig group....there are over 600 owners on that group that help other owners with any type of issue...and even share cut files. You must prove ownership of a PlasmaCam to join. Great group.

Jim Colt

got mine all fixed up it was a mistake on my part I had the wrong shield and tip mated up and the other was a tiny piece of slag on the tip.

But after calling plasmacam tech support. the guy said he was gonna send me a change of ownership form to fill out because I bought the table barely used. So I check my email and also have another email from them stating that my warranty and free tech support are not transferable and will cost me like 200 some bucks for 90 days and I now have no warranty. Am I the only one that thinks this is Crap. Me buying a macine less than 1 year old should not void a 3 year manufacturer warranty, am I wrong in thinking this

Yeah, Plasmacam's customer service has a lot to be desired.

For the non-conductive caps, we just use a piece of metal cut the width of the terminal so the terminal plugs onto it. The length is a couple of inches so it reaches down farther than the tip. We use a hose clamp to secure it. Set the cut height manually, loosen the clamp and slide the piece of metal down so it touches the table, tighten the clamp. That's about all there is to it. I have a pic hiding somewhere if needed.

One of these days, I'll show pics of the water tray and hood we built for the table as well.

Hi all. I also recently purchased a used PlasmaCAM unit DHC (about 5 years old) and a Hypertherm 1000. Got the same story from Tech support, They'd be glad to talk to me for $195 every 3 months! Sad
On the plus side my machine is up and running, although I need a lot of tuning to get it optimized.
Regarding Plasmapig, how long does it take to get accepted? I put in an application, but have heard nothing for a week. And I cannot find a place to put in inquiries. I'm not sure there was a place to put the serial number.
There is a local welding shop near here that uses a water table, they have the water right at the top surface of the metal being cut. They get a very clean cut edge. This is a big commercial unit by the way.

PlasmaPig is an independent user group of about 600 PlasmaCam owners.....they are in invaluable resource. I would just contact the group owner again....you will need your serial number for the system to join...as only owners are allowed. Great group....there are a few ornery artist types....but they can really help with tech support as well as sharing drawing files...etc. It is a Yahoo Group.

PlasmaCam is a relatively small company....and they choose to charge for tech service support on older machines. PlasmaPig members will do it for free. If you continue to have trouble joining the site...let me know....I'll contact the group owner and see whats up.

I have owned 2 PlasmaCams.....the first was the original model....now I have the DHC2....which has a better THC system than the DHC that you have. There is an upgrade kit available from PlasmaCam to turn your machine into the DHC2.....I'm not sure of the price....but the cut quality and consumable life improves dramatically due to better height control technology.

I am very happy with the machine...as well as the limited amount of support I have needed from PlasmaCam. I am a regular reader and contributor on the PlasmaPig user group.

Jim Colt

Hi all. I also recently purchased a used PlasmaCAM unit DHC (about 5 years old) and a Hypertherm 1000. Got the same story from Tech support, They'd be glad to talk to me for $195 every 3 months! Sad
On the plus side my machine is up and running, although I need a lot of tuning to get it optimized.
Regarding Plasmapig, how long does it take to get accepted? I put in an application, but have heard nothing for a week. And I cannot find a place to put in inquiries. I'm not sure there was a place to put the serial number.
There is a local welding shop near here that uses a water table, they have the water right at the top surface of the metal being cut. They get a very clean cut edge. This is a big commercial unit by the way.

Hey Jim,
I'll take you up of your offer to help me get into Plasmapig.I keep getting a membership pending across the top of the screen, and short of setting up a new yahoo account I don't know a way to restart my application & no way to contact the moderator or owner.
Thanks,
Fred