Powermax900 Xfer relay

[Kipper]

Hi, can anyone tell me if the Xfer output from the machine interface is a momentary one?

In Mach the input flashes momentarily which halts all movement after about 1mm of travel....the Arc is transfered and it cuts very well (almost perfect )

Just thought I'd ask before placing a latching relay in the circuit as possibly that part of the machine may be faulty....is 12 years still within the warranty period?

[jimcolt]

If your Powermax900 even has the arc transfer output (it was an optional board), it is a contact closure that remains closed while the arc is transferred to the metal. It actually operates by sensing current (amperage) on the work cable. When the arc goes out, there is no current.....and the contact opens.

Funny on the warranty! The nice thing is that you have a 12 year old plasma that still cuts well.....and is still supported by the manufacturer! If you look around at other brands (other than Hypertherm) you will not se that very often!

Jim

[Kipper]

Cheers Jim, I thought the pilot arc was the optional extra to the machine interface card?

I could easily become a "fanboy" of Hypertherm....I have all the manuals and wiring diagrams service sheets etc.....And the parts availability was a matter of one phone call and all the parts arrived overnight..At a fraction of what sellers on fleabay are asking!!...Just need to make some cash now

[jimcolt]

There are a few simple and effective methods of providing a arc transfer signal to tell the cnc or thc that the arc is on....on any plasma system. My favorite is a Rube Goldberg (do you know of Rube in the UK?!) method:

1. Find a small magnetic reed switch...these are usually encapsulated in a glass tube approximatly 6 to 8mm in diameter.
2. Slide the reed switch inside a piece of iron or steel pipe with an inside diameter just slightly larger than the reed switch....epoxy the switch inside the pipe (pipe should be maybe 75 mm long or so) with the switch wires exiting out one end.
3. Wrap 2 or 3 turns of the plasma work cable around the above pipe, connect the normally open contacts from the reed switch to the input required for this signal.
4. When the plasma arc is on, the flow of current through the work cable will create a magnetic field on the iron pipe, resulting in actuation of the reed switch....and now you have a simple arc transfer signal for any plasma system.

Yes, I have actually done this a few years back.....it works quite well!

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[Kipper]

Never heard of Rube Goldberg! I note he was a "Heath Robinson" type from his wiki entry

That method I've seen used in electric windows on cars and as a safety feature for sliding electric gates.

Nice and simple