Plasma THC Z not responding, Glitch?

[cncburn]

Due to a myriad of issues, I just changed out my THC from a Polabs (similar to Proma 150) to a Cap04 capacitive unit. The new THC is testing just fine. I am getting the appropriate up and down signals to the Masso. The Masso is receiving the signals as I can see the THC input 1 and 2 change state from Low to High. I have run several test posts from Sheetcam, with variations on the G code and THC on/off. The problem I am having is that the Masso is not responding to the THC inputs (to move the Z up/down.) I am including a copy of the latest test post for your review. The most common issue, is the Masso ignoring the up signal, and driving the head down to a hard stop (crash) completely ignoring the G92 touch-zero and the torch touch signal. While trouble shooting the issue, I discovered that if I change the THC to ON early in the program, (Line 6) I can see that the Masso "thinks" that it is changing the Z height in response to the THC up command. This can be seen on the DRO on the F2 screen. The numbers are moving up as if everything is working fine, but the actual drive is not moving. Could this be in the software? I could not find this exact issue discussed in the forum.

V3.39 SN# 5A 2275

Thank you for the help.

 

[Ross]

Hi cncburn,

Masso has sent a test plasma version; Update software v3.40.10pre

You should request it from them,

Plus you could try the postscript that I edited, it stops the THC from hijacking the Z at the end of the cut.

It might help you, but as for me I still am having problems with the thc not working.

Same problem different day for me!

Good luck from Ross.

 

[cncburn]

Thanks Ross, I have been following your posts on the forum. I will give your tweaked POST a try. Hopefully Masso will get back to me with the updated software on Monday. Some of the issues I had with the PoLabs THC were also due to this same Masso problem. In addition, it had a real problem with system noise. After almost 400.00 in rewiring, and swapping out servo drives with the manufacturer, I finally gave up on the PoLabs voltage THC. I switched to the Agelkom CAP04 capacitive unit. In testing (without the Plasma or Masso,) it is working well. If I can get the Masso bug worked out, I'm looking forward to actually burning things.

 

[masso-support]

@cncburn so have you set the THC in F1 setting to PROMA 150?

also have you used the M3 command and then the M667 command to switch ON THC?

please email your controller serial number on support if you haven't already done and will send you the latest copy of the software.

 

[cncburn]

Yes, I am using the Proma 150 on the F1 screen.

I have also used the M3 to turn on the Plasma, and M667 to turn on the THC.

Will e-mail support with the SN# now. Thank you

 

[rcrclr]

Yes masso support

Please help all of us with THC issues. I would like to hear from someone who has the problems worked out. You might even be labelled a hero.

 

[cncburn]

UPDATE: We learn something new every day. I discovered that my up/down wiring had to be reversed. My Z axis has the INVERT DIRECTION setting checked. So the up is down and the down is up. Problem solved...mostly. I still have a few tweaks that I would like to try. The new version 3.40.15 is working well so far. The new on screen buttons really help with troubleshooting. I'll post updates as I resolve issues. Thank you Ross, and Peter (Masso Support).

 

[Ross]

Hi cncburn, if what you are saying is correct. We just need to change the F1 screen from low to high for the thc1 and thc2.
A big favor from you is to send screen shots plus photos of what you have done with statements added.
It Might get a lot of us on the right track to solving this problem we all have.
Thanks from all of us.

 

[cncburn]

Good Morning Ross,

In this case, my switch inputs were correct (0 volts (signal off) 15v signal on). So the F1 switch state was fine. It was just the wire from the up/down signals that had to be reversed. I will post some video explanation later today, perhaps it will help somebody else work out their issue.

 

[cncburn]

A quick (poorly) shot video of my CAP 04 working in the proper direction. Hopefully, I can do some better video as I get further along.