im designing a cnc router using the arduino uno and cnc shield to drive steppers,i've found a potential problem ,in that the cnc shield may not have a X axis tool height re-location setting,for use with a touch pad,so a tool change does'nt result in either a ruined job or needs changes to software code to get the old tool zero height changed to new tool position. I have a previous video you did showing a break out board and stepper controlers,does that set up allow for the use of a touch contact pad for Z axis tool height zeroing. I do'nt want to go to far with the control electronics due to this as i may need to take another route from arduino,which the uno and four A988 controlers were £14,not much and can be used with a laser etcher,but no more expenses will be made in this area until i confirm if arduino cnc does the job,and why i'm contacting you for a back up solution,a bit more expensive ,but would be worth it for a more detailed machine. thanks.
I've got a MKS DLC V2.1 card and I have hooked it up to my homemade desktop CNC machine which I plan to use to run a plasma torch. I'm completely new to all of the CNC building and breakout board business so forgive me if my question comes off as somewhat of a obvious or a newbie type request. I'm running open builds control to send the information to the board and from the bored I'm going to tb6600 drivers. Those drivers are sending their signal and power to 3 nema 17 motors controlling x y and z. Everything is functioning great except when I try to run the program I get a error stating the z axis probe is not in the expected state. I've been told this is because I have set my parameters to require a touch off operation but I have no sensors on the table yet. No probe switches and no end stops. This all makes sense to me but I'm wondering if all I need to do is hook up a z stop or z probe to get past the error code that stops the machine when I'm trying to do a dry run. Any advice is greatly appreciated. When I attempt to run tha G-Code the Gantry moves to the first cup position and the z axis goes upward, then it returns the error code. I'm guessing this is because the z axis does not know where it's at. So do I hook up a switch to the probe connector on the board or the z axis and stop? When I created the G-Code in open builds design I did tell the z-axis to go to a safe height of 10 mm. But I didn't tell her anything more than that. I just figured if I zeroed all the axis before starting it would just automatically go up 10 mm and then drop down to my cut height and begin following the toolpath pattern. I'm going to check out some more of your videos and subscribe. Thanks.
Hi there if you are telling the CNC it needs to touch off before it retracts to the starting cut depth it will wait for the limit switch to be triggered before it continues and after some time with give an error. you need to make it that you not using a touch probe input before it starts cutting. that would be in your settings - THC turn that off and try run the program that should tell the software the the THC is not present or being used
@@cncmetalworksdo you think there's a way I can turn that off in open builds control if I already have the command in the G-Code? Or do I need to edit the G-Code?
my friend, i saw the THC systems...it seems very good... but i see they come with ''paralel port'' cable and connectors. my DIY cnc machine with mach 3, is connected via a USB PORT. Can it work like that?...i mean the MACH 3 will we connected with the USB PORT, while the THC will be connected via ''PARALEL PORT'' ? im not sure... please advice me. thank you so much for all your helpfull advice.
Once it touches off - like a home switch you then tell it to return to a set height above that point. think of it as when you 0 a machine it's just a zero of the touch height. this function is normally set in the cam software
Hello sir, i also made the cnc plasma machine without THC or z-axis. When i doing any job on the cnc is plasma torch is always on. When i doing holes in metal sheet is holes are done but the path is also cut. Pl's help me. The THC is needed to torch on/off or failure of sheetcam design when i made the design.
I have a hypertherm 65 and I use a THC metal is never flat and if you want good quality cuts a THC is a must. I built my machine to do 2 jobs - if I was to do it over I would do a Plasma machine and a milling machine. Speed is king with Plasma & direction change the faster the better. you will see the touch dips ever time it changes direction this is due to voltage change and I have to put this into the code to switch the THC off when coming to corners.
Sir , plz tell me How to configure the floating head micro switch in the mach 3 to sense the initial height ??? The settings in the mach 3 ???Plz reply. .. plz
hi vatso... i started the cnc plasma machine, i dnt have thc, and have a problem with the nozzle scraping the steel, and the nozzle melted due to the heat directly on the steel ( the steel sheet is never really flat). it seems on this video that you also dont have thc?...and the nozzle scrape the steel? but i see no problem, and your machine run smooth. is it ok if the nozzle scrape the sheet? AND can you advice me on a type of thc that is effective and affordable for a diy table, please?
Hi Johan, I do have a THC in fact if you look closely that dip in the touch is at sharp corners as the machine slows down the voltage changes as it stays longer in one spot cutting through I needed to make some changes to the code and the THC to fix it. the height of cut is 1.6mm about the metal. No I do not suggest running the touch tip on the metal. A THC is really needed for good cuts on thinner metal. I don't want to say it's okay as the cost of a new touch head will be more then a THC unit
hi vatso... ok, thank you so much. can you please advice me on a good but affordable thc ? im far in north namibia... i dnt wnt to buy a affordable thc, but its not working... i also dont want fancy stuff. just a good thc. plse
so i need to run a relay on the 2 wires off the plasma to relat that gets atvated from out put pin have mach and type in m3 turns on and m5 to shut off so what wire does the float switch in to
have one pin left the thc takes 3 i have it set up with macros float switch goes down and comes up to pirce higth when the auto tool is hit now my asire dont have the m3 m5 in post p but that is over my head
hello, congratulations on the video, how would you help me in this trust, since I did a floating z axis and would like and know how to config gcode to work that way I use the sheetcam and I use the mach3 post processor, could you explain how generates this gcode to work with floating oz
Hi there, the floating axis is setup as the home switch, the G Code you use needs to make reference to the Home Switch when it touches off on the surface. you will need a plasma post processor and set the touch off height.
Hi. I have a Chinese cnc plasma that currently has a richauto controller dsp. It doesn't work with thc, so I purchased a starfire Controller with thc. I need assistance in doing the change over. I'm out in Johannesburg. Please let me know if you or someone could assist. I don't mind paying..
i put this in my auto tool macro but like to no how it does like yours running tool pass to turn on and off like yours does ..'M3 Macro for TOM G31 Version Cfr = GetDro(18) Code"G31 Z-5 F20" While Ismoving() Wend Code"G92 Z0" While Ismoving() Wend Code"G0 Z .080" 'Switch offset While Ismoving() Wend Code"G92 Z0.000" While Ismoving() Wend COde" G0 Z0.120" 'Pierce Height While Ismoving() Wend SetDro(18,Cfr) While Ismoving() Wend DoOemButton(110) 'Fires Torch reset THC height END i am trying to use asire to gen tool pass and think that not going to work need post p changed for m3 m5
quick question, what keeps the tip from hitting the metal as it travels or is the gap big enough to accomodate a workpiece that isn't perfectly flat and doesn't warp. I like simple, I have a magnetically mounted torch hold with the spring loaded touch off. I am using an electronic connection for touch off, grounding the piece and the tip is the other connection. Anyone?
Hi There, the way it works is by measuring the voltage of the plasma arc and when the arc voltage changes the z axis compensates for it by either moving the plasma up and or down. I have a hypertherm which has a CNC plug out which is connected to the controller this is how I know what the plasma arc voltage is.
@@cncmetalworks cool, thanks for getting back to me. So my Hypertherm has the 14 pin but only 4 pins are connected, two to run turn the plasma torch on, two wires that aren't in that 14 pin plug come directly from the board ( j15+j16) terminals and those are not through a divider, they run up to around 300volts. The last 2 pins are a bit of a mystery to me, arc ok ?? Do you know what i'd use to make that what you have work? I don't know how to finish it off, can't seem to find help. I'm running mach3 and a leadshine MX4660. I'm not stuck on mach3 but people keep saying mach 4 sucks. Just can't find some reliable information. You're system without the THC is what I want to use. If you''d rather my email is michael@ronneseth.ca
@@michaelronneseth801 There is a dividing board you get when you install the CNC port as an option - well that what I got at the time purchase my Hypertherm 65 - www.hypertherm.com/hypertherm/powermax/powermax65/?PageNumber=2 - check the machine torch specs (Power supply with CPC port and voltage divider)
@@cncmetalworks yeah, mine doesn't have that, I have an older but awesome 1000 g3 series, it runs directly from the terminals so I will have to try to find a divider somewhere first but sorry to be a pain, and trust me, I super appreciate the help but once you get the divided signal at the lower voltage, how did you use that ? You aren't running a THC unit are you?
@@michaelronneseth801 I have one of these www.proma-elektronika.com/compact-thc-150/ which I no longer use as I have my Hypertherm and BOB / THC combined which works on lower divided voltage. this should give you an idea of how it would be connected. you have 2 options high voltage output THC or preferred Low voltage / voltage divider. You would need to see what others have done with your model of plasma
ok could you help me I have the code that I have it in my button scrip tool zero and when I hit the button it goes down like yours but what I am missing is how I get it in so it runs the file after like yours do I need to place them in the post p some where any help
hi vatso...my friend, please help. im in northern namibia, and you advised me before...thank you so much. is there a way i can fwd you images ? i sent you my emailadres the first time, but removed it here. please help with this... we dont know where to connect the two in, and the two out wires of the relay (my plasma on/off switch.) can you please help with advice. (especially the ''out wires '' from the relay. } thank you so much johan
Hi Johan, Why not just add an image to google docs or dropbox the reason is other people can learn from this which is why I do the videos :) then just add a link or send me a message via youtube thanks Mark
