New Machine Build- display box to change X and Y values

[Farmers Machine]

With a lot of help and a tremendious amount of patience the big Esab has come back to life. On a large gantry oxy fuel/ plasma machine using the default CBK file on Cam Soft pro. I have a Set X , Set Y, and Set Zero buttons on the screen, no hand wheel or actual buttons yet. If you wanted to cut a 16" diameter circle how could you jog the torch to the side of the plate and teach Y 8.2" and then jog over to the other corner and teach X 8.2" to keep on the plate and have zero established for the center? On my Milltronics Mill control when you set X or Y a box pops up with a default of Zero but you can type in any # or if you are using an edge finder you can teach one side zero and then find the other side and the pop up box will let you divide by 2 to find center. I have discovered with Cam Soft you can do anything but you have to know how.
Thanks
The Farmer

[Karl_T]

Set X button is very typically M116. verify this then make your M116 like this:

QUESTION Enter X value;\80;0
HOMEX \80
----M116


Now when you click the "Set X" button, a window will pop up asking you for the X value. The Home command will then put it in the control. Do same for Y

Karl

[Karl_T]

Originally Posted by Farmers Machine With a lot of help and a tremendious amount of patience the big Esab has come back to life. ...

Say, I'm rebuilding a Cybermation/Inner Logic 6 x 10 plasma table. I'm a bit (well way) behind you as I'm welding on the frame and beefing up the mechancial drive system at this point.

Are you having issues with electrical noise? Sounds like a big potential problem. Did you build your own THC unit (my plan)?

Karl

[Farmers Machine]

Have only been cuting thick plates with the oxy fuel torch. Talked to a man in Dallas that builds thc's he is working on a new one should be ready sept or so. a major issue that I had not thought about is " Diving" when you cut out a circle and the torch is still active and the drop falls out the thc will want to make a fast downward move or dive into the part to adjust the voltage. He is working on electronics to avoid this move. I have no personal experience with a cnc plasma. spent one sunday evening searching for thc's. the biggest obstical is how to send the torch to the plate with out jamming the tip and fowling the orifice, and there are several different ideas.there will have to be a devoted axis to move the torch and it will need some form of feed back.
The man in Dallas says his box will control the axis up and down to maintain voltage and with M functions could raise and lower the torch either an M code or macro calls his device into action but I didnt fully understand. His torch mount has a small amount of up and down movement and a limit switch. as the Z axis moves the torch assembly down and the tip touches the metal, within a few thousanths the limit switch is activated and this becomes a new refrence. then the torch move up to the peirce height waits for burn thru and starts the cut. My Lincoln pro cut 80 has a drag tip or cover over the actual electrode tip. for now I may just build a floating torch holder and let it scoot along the plate as long as it doesnt get to crazy. The big Esab is border line to large for highspeed sheet metal art work spanning 17 feet in Y and 22 feet of track in X. But put in a # 4 tip and some 2" plate and it will knock the bottom out of a 12 pack of oxygen bottles. The learning curve was tough on the head but when I finally figure out what code to use to do what I want, there will be no end to the possibilities. Really pleased with the outcome so far.

Thank You
The Farmer

[Farmers Machine]

The man in Dallas said that on the proto type he is building he wrapped the control cables around the plasma torch and had no noise issues.

The Farmer

[Karl_T]

Originally Posted by Farmers Machine Talked to a man in Dallas that builds thc's he is working on a new one should be ready sept or so. a major issue that I had not thought about is " Diving" when you cut out a circle and the torch is still active and the drop falls out the thc will want to make a fast downward move or dive into the part to adjust the voltage. He is working on electronics to avoid this move. ...

Are his initials TC? Keep in touch with me if you get something you like.

Otherwise, I do Camsoft for the challenge. Looking for a new mountain to climb; I settled on Plasma and THC. My plan is to do the THC in Galil controller background thread. A EE has helped design an opto isolated voltage input. I got a current input sensor. And just found a device to control the Plasma current pot. Galil should be capable of a top notch THC control.

Karl

[camsoft]

CamSoft offers 4 methods for Automatic Torch Height Control.

Our CNC Professional version includes a standard feature for both analog or digital feedback utilizing the existing equipment or possibly offering you some hardware to adjust the Z axis height every 60 ms.

CNC Professional provides the real-time ability and generic pre-written logic routines for reading analog and/or digital signals from other manufacture torch brands. Ranging from methods to monitor simple I/O signals or analog voltage fluctuations from either InterLogic, HyperTherm or other 3rd party brands. These signals and IO functions control Torch On/Off, Anti-Dive, Torch Up/Down but most importantly maintain a user defined distance between the torch tip and material at all times, unless in manual mode.

To determine cost and effort of which method is best for you these are the choices for ATHC:


(1) Have us customize a routine to use a 3rd party or self made THC device that sends either digital pulses, IO signals, infra red light refractor, 0-10 vdc analog, laser probe or RS232 / USB commands.

(2) We offer a $800 box for THC that supplies the high voltage current and measures the ohms (resistance) that correspond to pre-written routines made for this box.


(3) We offer a step down transformer or voltage divider (under $150) with pre-written user customizable logic that will reduce the voltage to a level that an analog input on the motion card can read. The 16 bit analog input ADC converter can be added on the motion board or sold separately. Plus use your own power supply up to 300V to run through the torch tip.

(4) If you have an InterLogic or HyperTherm brand of THC Torch. CNC Professional already has pre-written user customizable logic you could enable.
This is a large , complex topic with many choices that uniquely fit each application. So if any one is interested please contact our sales dept at sales@cnccontrols.com

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
support@camsoftcorp.com
PH 951-674-8100
Fax 951-674-3110
www.cnccontrols.com