floating tourch?

[ward2699]

so how exactly to you hook up a floating tourch system. i get the z axis but how is the switch wired (to where) and how do you set it up in EMC2. any help is appreciated

[Torchhead]

Typically you wire it to an input and either run it as Z home with a homing sequence in the G-code or you use write a special touch-off macro

The basic sequence:

inserted before a pierce :

Move torch down towards material
Torch touches material and as Z motion continues it pushes torch up and strikes the switch
Motion stops and G-code backs Z back up the "switch offset" distance (overrun) so tip is just sitting on the top of the material.
Zero out the Z dro
Lift up to pierce height
Fire the torch
Drop to starting cut height
Delay THC take over though out the pierce and plunge process

it's pretty easy to do this with SheetCAm because the has the switch offset variable you can set and also has another variable (RefDistance) that sums the XY moves and triggers an automatic touch off before a pierce if Travel Distance > REF DIStance. That allows for not having to reference before EVERY pierce provided the pierces are close together. Sheetcam puts in all of the code for you so if you define and hookup the floating switch as Z home it needs no other code or special macros

TOMcaudle
www.candcnc.com



If you use the Z home approach you can use SheetCAM and any post setup for a THC with floating holder (THC300; MP1000-THC , etc)

I assume you have some form of THC for the EMC2 setup (?)

[ward2699]

thank you very much....um by THC if you mean a motor on the z axis then yes. but if you mean something adjusting tourch automatically during the cut..no. i dont need auto for floating tourch do i??