On 5/26/2011 2:14 PM, Viesturs La-cis wrote: > Hello! > > I have to propose a solution to control a plasma table that has THC-300. > I have been searching for some useful information: > I found these schematics: > http://git.linuxcnc.org/gitweb?p=emc2.git;a=blob_plain;hb=HEAD;f=configs/plasma-thc/thc300.odg > Honestly, I somehow do not understand, why is all that necessary. > > In this thread > http://www.linuxcnc.org/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,20/func,view/id,9070/catid,10/limit,6/limitstart,0/lang,english/ > I found that John Thornton wrote a thcud.comp component - much > simplier and easier to understand. > > I have a question: > If THC-300 send out ARC OK signal, would it make sense connecting it > to motion.spindle-at-speed pin? > > What I would like to get is: M3 command turns on the torch and EMC > waits, until arc is closed and then starts movement. > I know that it can be done with subroutines or M1xx commands or simply > by using M66 command, but I would like it to be set up in a nice > fashion. > > Since I am convinced this already has been done, there is no need to > reinvent the wheel... > Plasma table owners, could You, please, share Your solutions or > insights for this? I would especially appreciate any tips/advices > about THC300. > > Thanks in advance! > > Viesturs > >
Viesturs, I'm curious, what are they using to control the Plasma table now? Mach3 or are they using some other CNC controller? The THC300 was one of the very first low cost THC systems to come on the market several years ago. The guy who designed it (I believe was Tom Caudle at http://www.candcnc.com) stopped selling it some time ago. When Tom Caudle stopped selling it, Jim Cullins and Bob Campbell got involved with it and they started selling it. http://campbelldesigns.net/plasma-torch-height-control.php Tom Caudle sells an all digital THC now. Some business transaction (buy/sell) probably made that happen. >>For ordering the THC300 please go to Jim Cullins new web page at www.soundlogicus.com <http://www.soundlogicus.com> This link no longer works as I believe that Jim Cullins has retired (I heard) and so I am not sure who, if anyone, is actually selling or supporting it. Here are some pictures of the components.... http://campbelldesigns.net/files/THC-300-Pictures.pdf From what I have heard, the Mesa THC/EMC2 solution works well. Seeing that the Mesa THC board is less than $100, if you are using Mesa products anyway, I wouldn't spend too much time trying to integrate on obsolete and unsupported THC300 unit into a new control system. Did you see this? http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/emcinfo.pl?Torch_Height_Control I don't know if you have ever used Sheetcam but it is suppose to work very well in a Plasma cutting setup. I use to produce Gcode files for a waterjet that runs EMC2 and it works well for that also. I believe it will insert the Mcodes for the torch control if you set it up properly. It is not free but well worth the price (less than $200). Dave ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ vRanger cuts backup time in half-while increasing security. With the market-leading solution for virtual backup and recovery, you get blazing-fast, flexible, and affordable data protection. Download your free trial now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/quest-d2dcopy1 _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
