Good day.
So I got my machine up and running again…out of the blue I get Z commanded over soft limit…restart Mach 4 pierced a hole get it again. check the soft limit setting I had -8.6 to 0.
I did lower the plasma head just below the plate and the measurement from the sensor to this is 6". so I change this in the soft limit settings …pierced 3 holes and get the error again.
In Mach4 the Gcode N170 G31.0 Z-100 F500.0
I using sheetcam to generate the gcode…any fix to this?
Thank you!
Can you provide a tiny bit more G-code? There is typically a G92 or other such that is assocaited wtih the G31 almost immediately after, although there are other ways to do it.
Maybe share enough g-code that is cutting 2x full holes and we can look at it.
Z-100?? This may be your problem. Your programmed Z position in below your established soft limit I believe. Your machine see that in the look ahead and errors out….unless your in metric.
Try jogging Z to your desired position and ‘zero your Z.’ Now edit your program line to be Z 0.0?
Good day.
Below the gcode.
Funny it seems for the same file sometimes I get the error…sometimes not.
On the "Z-100?? This may be your problem. "
This line is from the post processor in sheetcam from Avid it self.
I have allot items to cut so it is a big problem for me 
– Post processor version
local postVersion = “1.7”
–Torch on and off codes. CHANGE THE P# to match your OUTPUT#!!! P3 is for Output#3, P27 is for Output#27, etc…
torchOnCode = " M62P3"
torchOffCode = " M63P3"
–Code to use when referencing
refCode=" G31.0 Z-100"
N0010 (Filename: 10mm circle test 2.tap)
N0020 (Post processor: Avid CNC Mach4.scpost v1.7)
N0030 (Date: 17/02/2020)
N0040 G21 (Units: Metric)
N0050 G53 G90 G91.1 G40
N0060 G64 (Constant Velocity Mode - normally used with Plasma)
N0070 (Part: 10mm circle test)
N0080 (Operation: Inside Offset, Default, T1: Mild Steel, 16 GA, 45A, Powermax 45XP, Duramax, Shielded)
N0090 m2020 (TARGET_TIP_VOLTS=115.1)
N0100 m2020 (ESS_DELAY_AFTER_ARC_OKAY=0.1)
N0110 G4 P0.1
N0120 G00 X1.9404 Y8.0596
N0130 G91 Z-0.1000
N0140 G90
N0150 (<<<<<<RESTART POINT #1>>>>>>)
N0160 G31.0 Z-100 F500.0
N0170 M3002 (Zero Z Axis - Ohmic)
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 Z1.5240 F2540.0
N0260 F99.9998
N0270 M63P4 (THC Inhibited, AD2)
N0280 G02 I3.0596 J-3.0596 F69.9999
N0290 M62P4 (+++THC Allowed, AD2+++)
N0300 G01 F99.9998
N0310 M63P3
N0320 G91 G00 Z0.5000
N0330 G90
N0340 M3000 (Set work shift)
N0350 G00 Z10.0000
N0360 Z10.1000
N0370 M30
%
That is hugely different from what I use here, although I’m using Mach-3.
The system here does the G31 to command the ohmic touch-off, but then does a G92 to set the local Z0 and then a G0 to lift up to the pierce height.
So that code is just a ton different. I bought a copy of sheet CAM but have never used it and I’m still on Mach-3 so I may not be of any help here.
I can confirm that that I use G31 with a ‘Z’ value of -10, but again that is not Mach-4.
This seems to affectting the plasma side…in the past I had a similar issue with the router.
seems to be gone…I ran the router today about 4hrs went good, laser attached to the router head good. as soon as I tried to run the plasma the first time it dropped I got the error…so in the meantime I have to run the plasma with the soft limits disabled otherwise I cannot get nothing done