thc working or not?

[empirecustoms]

hello my name is mark. And i am having a hard time with my thc. i am unable to tell if i set it up correctly. i have a 5 x 10 easy router table with a 1650 hyopertherm with a machine tourchead .. using the mp1000-thc and using mach3.. i am having problems with geting the the table to run with it clicked on .. i am just learning to write g code and i am using autocad to the the dfx and using lazy cam to get the g code but the plasma doesnt work for me but if i set it to mill and edit the g- code i can run the program (but not with the thc sensor on. (green)).. so i am trying to trouble shoot what is wrong with the thc. and i am unable to probe for stock why is that? thanks in advance

[empirecustoms]

ok so i have followed all the steps that i could find and the thc seems to be working but sadly i cant get it to workfor me .. so for now i am just using g-code for milling and manually setting the tourch height.. i am stumped.. if anybody has some ideals please let me know maching is new to me. my background is in cad maybe i can help you if u help me ?

[lowpull]

You need to add more info about how its not working. Is it cutting,but giving a fault light?
Is the head moving but not firing the torch. Or does it just do nothin?

[Torchhead]

I have never used LazyCAM with the MP1000C. All of the touch off and Plasma parameters are easy to use with SheetCAM. You also can get help on our CandCNCSupport Yahoo forum. The "probing" (we call it touch off) is done suing the Z home as the touch off switch and the Floating torch holder. You can write the custom code in a POST or you can use our POST files for SheetCAM. It sounds like the electronics are working but the software is the problem. Look, I know LazyCAM is free but what is your time and frustration worth?

TOM CAUDLE
www.CandCNC.com

[empirecustoms]

sorry for the lack of info .. i know its not working beacuse when i turn it on in mach 3 the head dives into the metal while firing and still trying to run the program. i found out the boss never installed sheet cam on the pc i was using. i installed it and was able to get the code to mach 3 then with that code its still ran into the material while firing . so .. i double checked all the wiring and so far it lokks and test right .. one thing is in mach3 i am unable to transfer my amps to the thc unit. let me know if there is anything i might have missed

[Torchhead]

You can't set amps in MACH. You can preset Tip Volts but you have to have a working serial port connection between the MP1000 and the computer.

You HAVE to be using the MP1000C-THC MACH profile (XML) from the MACH Loader or you will never get it to work right.

The MP1000_THC post in SheetCAM assumes you have the floating torch holder and the trip switch hooked to the Z home input.

Do you have the 48 page MP1000C User Manual? Setup and testing is covered in there (along with port setup and testing) You can download it from the www.CandCNC.com/manuals.htm page.

The first move of the g-code using the MP1000-THC post is to go out and find the top of the metal. If you don't have it setup with the right hardware it will not find the switch and it will dive to the center of the earth (or the end of the Z).

You need to look at the Gcode coming out of SheetCAM. The Z moves will be obvious. After it pierces at the pierce height set in SheetCAm it "dives" to the "initial Cut height" setting in SheetCAM. It then starts to cut and the THC takes over AFTER a delay set by the THC DELAY setting in MACH. It's there to ignore the big voltage spike from the pierce. The manual covers testing by setting up and running first with the THC off in MACH. You should get the torch to come down, touch off, raise to pierce height and stat a cut. None of those moves have anything to do with the THC The ONLY thing it won't do is move the Z during the cut. If it cuts okay with the THC off in MACH then all of the wiring and SheetCAM settings are correct. IF it does not, the THC is the wrong thing to focus on.

Get it cutting first with the THC off in MACH. Once you do that, watch the TIP Volts as it cuts and the UP and DOWN LED's on the MP1000C Front panel. The tip volts will reflect the cut gap. If the cut gap is close to where it should be then make a note of the average tip volts you see and plug that value into the Preset (target) tip volts and try a cut with the THC turned on in MACH. You can move the preset setting UP or DOWN using the UP and DOWN buttons on the Mp1000 Front Panel.

The other EXTREMELY important thing is to make sure the Z is moving the right direction. The Z value should INCREASE in the DRO as you jog it UP and decrease in value as you jog it down...never mind if the jog keys are not right. If you have the motor turning the wrong way the THC will issue an UP command and the motor will move DOWN.

We have a product support forum at CandCNCSupport Yahoo Groups. It's setup to deal with support questions and checked more often than CNCZone.


TOM CAUDLE
www.CandCNC.com