Q for Mike on Plasma interface.

[JBurgess]

Do you or can you offer an interface that will wait for an arc initiated signal from the plasma before motion?

[Mike@Torchmate]

It should only be a matter of programming an input line for a normally open or normally closed circuit to accept the OK to move signal. Then in the software you would be able to create an m-code macro that would initiate M-code 50, then use an M101 IX command, where M101 means wait for tripped state on (I)nput line X. You would also have to define an input line to a Control type set to either normally open or normally closed.

With our current height control, there is no way to program an ok to move for it, so your height will always be timer based and if the cutter does not fire. However you can define a wait time for the M101 command so that if after X amount of seconds the input line is not tripped, it will signal a feed hold.

We are in testing with a prototype height control unit that will be able to accept OK to move signals.

[JBurgess]

Thanks Mike,

That works for me. Once my hieght control receives cut signal from motion controler, it establishes hieght then signals plasma to start, when it recieves the arc established signal its send OK to move to the motion control and starts following voltage to set hieght, The plasma sets the delay between pierce and arc established.