frank-corcoran
Frank Corcoran
I have not found this functionality in G3... ?
As Plasma cutting is really a 2d process most machines need to only process positioning G codes and torch on/off M code.
Most job parameters need to be set up at the machine as others have noted. I.E typical "spindle" Z data is handled in the THC.
What is NOT available is speed and delay functions at the Masso. These cannot be effectively transmitted through G code.
The overarching constraint on speeds and feeds is material thickness. This influences travel speed as well as pierce height and delay before moving.
This is why most plasma machine controllers have job configuration capability. This is similar in some ways to the tool database in milling.
The user is presented with a list of named configurations (E>G> " 7 gauge steel with finecut nozzle 45 amps")
Associated with that name are: Cut Speed, Pierce Height, Pierce delay, Stop short distance, Continue cutting after stop time, Slower on arcs less than, Etc.
Feedrate override would only be used to compensate for consumable wear.
This allows a single G code file to be used for any material type. Which is quite common with these cutters. Unless one is merely making decorative signs, The gauged thickness of the bracket or mounting plate will drive the machine. The only other way to adjust these would be to go to a computer and re-cam a part each time it needs to be reproduced with different material.
I personally have thousands of part designs which I have re-used many times without even looking at the G code. Many of these are simple shapes lifted off a DXF file which is long gone. Should I redraw them simply because I need this part in a thicker material?
As Plasma cutting is really a 2d process most machines need to only process positioning G codes and torch on/off M code.
Most job parameters need to be set up at the machine as others have noted. I.E typical "spindle" Z data is handled in the THC.
What is NOT available is speed and delay functions at the Masso. These cannot be effectively transmitted through G code.
The overarching constraint on speeds and feeds is material thickness. This influences travel speed as well as pierce height and delay before moving.
This is why most plasma machine controllers have job configuration capability. This is similar in some ways to the tool database in milling.
The user is presented with a list of named configurations (E>G> " 7 gauge steel with finecut nozzle 45 amps")
Associated with that name are: Cut Speed, Pierce Height, Pierce delay, Stop short distance, Continue cutting after stop time, Slower on arcs less than, Etc.
Feedrate override would only be used to compensate for consumable wear.
This allows a single G code file to be used for any material type. Which is quite common with these cutters. Unless one is merely making decorative signs, The gauged thickness of the bracket or mounting plate will drive the machine. The only other way to adjust these would be to go to a computer and re-cam a part each time it needs to be reproduced with different material.
I personally have thousands of part designs which I have re-used many times without even looking at the G code. Many of these are simple shapes lifted off a DXF file which is long gone. Should I redraw them simply because I need this part in a thicker material?
- NOTE: this is in no way a criticism of the amazing work done with this controller! To produce a real-time pulse generator while handling vga output, usb data streams, and IO interrupts in an embedded processor is no mean feat!
- @ the developers... perhaps some transparency on your challenges as far as RAM limitations, NV memory space, processor speed, etc. might quell some of these more fanciful "I have this feature on my PC" requests!