ROTM
May 24, 2023, 8:11pm
1
Question…after I cut something lets say a circle the plasma torch goes way up before another cut and this results into wasted time.
Where can I adjust this?
see this video at 19:20 4'x4' Cnc Plasma Table ~ Avid Pro Cnc Plasma Kit - YouTube
When the machine was new it behaved like the video.
Thank you!
If you can post some sample gcode maybe we can take a look. The machine will only do what it’s told, so the code should reveal the move.
Agreed, David. On the system I run here, that is specified in the G-Code. Many pieces of SW ‘like’ to default it to a ‘safe-high’ to help people possibly breeze over a tip-up without snagging on it. but if cutting big parts that can’t tip-up, or just plowing in a bunch of holes before cutting the part free from the sheet, then a lower retract height is nice. I use different CAD here than most ppl, so I can’t comment to much on this one, but for me, the retract height is specified in the G-Code.
1 Like
ROTM
May 26, 2023, 2:11am
4
Thank you for the reply.
Here is a gcode for cuttign 3 circles.
Thank you!
N0010 (Filename: sq253piece.tap)
N0020 (Post processor: Avid CNC Mach4.scpost v1.7)
N0030 (Date: 19/02/2020)
N0040 G21 (Units: Metric)
N0050 G53 G90 G91.1 G40
N0060 G64 (Constant Velocity Mode - normally used with Plasma)
N0070 (Part: sq253piece)
N0080 (Operation: Inside Offset, Default, T24: HTP Steel 3mm setting 11 THC100)
N0090 m2020 (TARGET_TIP_VOLTS=100)
N0100 m2020 (ESS_DELAY_AFTER_ARC_OKAY=0.2)
N0110 G4 P0.1
N0120 G00 X55.7568 Y45.9971
N0130 G91 Z-0.1000
N0140 G90
N0150 (<<<<<<RESTART POINT #1>>>>>>)
N0160 G31.0 Z-100 F500.0
N0170 M3003 (Zero Z Axis - Mechanical)
N0180 M3001 (Clear work shift)
N0190 m2020 (HC_WORK_Z_ZEROED=1)
N0200 G4 P0.1
N0210 G00 Z3.8100
N0220 G4 P0.002
N0230 M62P3
N0240 Z3.8090
N0250 G01 Z3.0480 F2540.0
N0260 F2032.0
N0270 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0280 G02 X53.3184 Y43.5587 I-2.4384 J0.0000
N0290 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0300 G01 X45.3229
N0310 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0320 X38.9729 F1422.4
N0330 Y49.9087
N0340 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0350 Y65.8997 F2032.0
N0360 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0370 Y72.2497 F1422.4
N0380 X45.3229
N0390 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0400 X61.3139 F2032.0
N0410 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0420 X67.6639 F1422.4
N0430 Y65.8997
N0440 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0450 Y49.9087 F2032.0
N0460 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0470 Y43.5587 F1422.4
N0480 X61.3139
N0490 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0500 X53.3184 F2032.0
N0510 M63P3
N0520 G04 P0.2
N0530 G91 G00 Z0.5000
N0540 G90
N0550 M3000 (Set work shift)
N0560 G00 Z10.0000
N0570 X81.9086 Y22.9295
N0580 G91 Z-0.1000
N0590 G90
N0600 (<<<<<<RESTART POINT #2>>>>>>)
N0610 G31.0 Z-100 F500.0
N0620 M3003 (Zero Z Axis - Mechanical)
N0630 M3001 (Clear work shift)
N0640 m2020 (HC_WORK_Z_ZEROED=1)
N0650 G4 P0.1
N0660 G00 Z3.8100
N0670 G4 P0.002
N0680 M62P3
N0690 Z3.8090
N0700 G01 Z3.0480 F2540.0
N0710 F2032.0
N0720 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0730 G02 X79.4702 Y25.3679 I0.0000 J2.4384
N0740 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0750 G01 Y31.9788
N0760 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0770 Y38.3288 F1422.4
N0780 X85.8202
N0790 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0800 X99.0422 F2032.0
N0810 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0820 X105.3922 F1422.4
N0830 Y31.9788
N0840 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0850 Y18.7569 F2032.0
N0860 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0870 Y12.4069 F1422.4
N0880 X99.0422
N0890 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0900 X85.8202 F2032.0
N0910 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N0920 X79.4702 F1422.4
N0930 Y18.7569
N0940 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0950 Y25.3679 F2032.0
N0960 M63P3
N0970 G04 P0.2
N0980 G91 G00 Z0.5000
N0990 G90
N1000 M3000 (Set work shift)
N1010 G00 Z10.0000
N1020 X21.8504 Y14.9384
N1030 G91 Z-0.1000
N1040 G90
N1050 (<<<<<<RESTART POINT #3>>>>>>)
N1060 G31.0 Z-100 F500.0
N1070 M3003 (Zero Z Axis - Mechanical)
N1080 M3001 (Clear work shift)
N1090 m2020 (HC_WORK_Z_ZEROED=1)
N1100 G4 P0.1
N1110 G00 Z3.8100
N1120 G4 P0.002
N1130 M62P3
N1140 Z3.8090
N1150 G01 Z3.0480 F2540.0
N1160 F2032.0
N1170 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N1180 G02 X24.2888 Y12.5000 I-0.0000 J-2.4384
N1190 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N1200 G01 Y7.0612
N1210 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N1220 Y0.7112 F1422.4
N1230 X17.9388
N1240 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N1250 X7.0612 F2032.0
N1260 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N1270 X0.7112 F1422.4
N1280 Y7.0612
N1290 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N1300 Y17.9388 F2032.0
N1310 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N1320 Y24.2888 F1422.4
N1330 X7.0612
N1340 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N1350 X17.9388 F2032.0
N1360 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2 )
N1370 X24.2888 F1422.4
N1380 Y17.9388
N1390 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N1400 Y12.5000 F2032.0
N1410 M63P3
N1420 G04 P0.2
N1430 G91 G00 Z0.5000
N1440 G90
N1450 M3000 (Set work shift)
N1460 G00 Z10.0000
N1470 Z10.1000
N1480 M30
%
There a a good number of lines like the one above, where ‘Z’ is being retracted almost 3.81inches. Likely the CAD system used to generate the G-Code is putting those in there.
Hmm well it’s metric so those should only result in, what’s that, about 1/8"? I think I’m interpreting that right. There’s a final retract to Z10 but that’s only roughly 3/8". I don’t see anything like G53 Zxx, G28 or a high Z retract that would be commanding the move.
The way I read it, it should finish, pause 0.2s, rapid up 0.5mm, rapid up to 10mm, then rapid up another 0.1mm to a final 10.1mm above the material surface and rewind.
ROTM
May 26, 2023, 5:56pm
7
The new Avid Mach4 version has an option to set the z height.
and this was the issue Mach4 Plasma Users Guide - CNC Software (avidcnc.com)
I still have another error but waiting on Avid respone.
The only next step I can think of is to replace the computer.
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Awesome, sounds like the timing on that new version is great! In the system here (CAD+GCode) the tool retracts are hard coded in the G-Code as explicit moves so they are super easy eto spot, not return to plane or any other of the many ways it can be done. Glad there is a quick path back to getting things working for you!