Plasma Torch Crashing

[aaronbee]

For the record, I'm a total noob to all things CNC. Just throwing that out there.

I'm using sheetcam/Mach3 to run a plasma table.

Basically, I needed to cut the shape of a tin box out of 22 gauge sheet metal that would later be folded up using a finger brake. Nothing fancy. Just a box.

Cutting out one was no big deal, but using sheetcam to duplicate said box across a 3'X8' sheet created a problem. The 22 gauge tends to warp here and there, but as the torch moves from one part to the next duplicate, the the height of the torch stays about an 1/8" off the table. I want it to go up an inch or so before it moves to the next box so it doesn't crash into the warped metal from one of the adjacent cuts.

Here's the heart of the matter, below is a snippet of the G-Code Sheetcam produced:

N4560 G03 X4.8625 Y25.7445 I0.0165 J-0.0188
N4570 G02 X4.7025 Y25.5845 I-0.1600 J0.0000
N4580 M05
N4590 G04 P0.5
N4600 G00 Z0.1575
N4610 (Part: lvbox2 Duplicate 3)
N4620 (Process: Plasma, inside, Steel 22ga .028 volt 98 amps 30)
N4630 X23.5546 Y1.4306
N4640 G28.1 Z0.12
N4650 G92 Z0.0
N4660 G00 Z0.4900
N4670 G92 Z0.0
N4680 G00 Z0.1800
N4690 M03
N4700 G01 Z0.1400 F25
N4710 G02 X23.4438 Y1.4306 I-0.0554 J0.0554 F125.0

My newbie question is, if I change line N4600 (and all lines like it before each new duplicate part) to read something like "N4600 G00 Z1.0", will that go ahead and lift the damn torch up an inch off the table before it goes racing off to X23.5 Y1.4 and trying to drag sheet metal with it while giving me a small heart attack as I scramble for a stop button and scream obscenities? Would that fix the problem?

I'm trying to learn these things, but I'd like some reassurance first from someone who knows what they are doing. Or at least knows more than me. =)

[stevo1]

Yes that will do it for you.

Only suggestion is to double check to make sure that is the line (N4600) that you want to change. I am not sure of your machine but I would ass u me that you should have some sort of override or single block to slow things down so you can see exactly were you are at, what you want to change, and it is slow enough to stop before any damage. Once proven out then turn her back to 100% and go.

Stevo

[aaronbee]

Yup. Works perfect. Thank you. It seemed logical enough and I've been reading, but I'm still not confident enough at this point to just go wild making changes.

[jeffery71]

For the future to make it easier. You can change the rapid height in Sheetcam. Look in under "options" "material setup" and then change the "rapid clearance" to whatever you want.

Jeff T.

http://www.3dcarvestudio.com

[aaronbee]

Originally Posted by jeffery71 For the future to make it easier. You can change the rapid height in Sheetcam. Look in under "options" "material setup" and then change the "rapid clearance" to whatever you want. Jeff T. http://www.3dcarvestudio.com

Oh... well thank you. Amazing, the things you learn in a day. =)

Between the sheetcam manual, mach3 manual, and the nonsense I've been reading about g-code; it's a lot to digest. Still comforting to know it worked manually, though. It surly can't be long before I get "confident" and foul things up epically. ;-)

[jeffery71]

Originally Posted by aaronbee Between the sheetcam manual, mach3 manual, and the nonsense I've been reading about g-code; it's a lot to digest. Still comforting to know it worked manually, though. It surly can't be long before I get "confident" and foul things up epically. ;-)

I know its alot to try to figure out all at once! Sheetcam is an awesome program I love it!


Jeff T.

http://www.3dcarvestudio.com