New Plasma build question
Scratch start will be a challenge, but I think firing the torch before probing could just make it work, but only with floating head and switch. This will also have the inheritable problem of short circuiting the output of the plasma cutter while probing and while that is required to make it start, doing that very often and for prolonged time might end up in burning the plasma if it does not have provisions for limiting the output current, that can be checked easily by opening the plasma and looking for a choke
Thanks for the info Tommy, Could you elaborate a little more on the above. Are you saying scratch start will be a problem with the part under water. I just have a very old cut40 type machine pic here: forum.linuxcnc.org/38-general-linuxcnc-q...727-about-thc#135714 I am getting conflicting views on which THC 10 or 300 does the pic help to identify this.
Thank for all your input in the past.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Clive, I think you will be fine. I think you will find when you get our torch that it is a HF pilot arc start and will fire in the air.
Rod I got one of these to test the cut40 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PT31-New-Red-LG-40-Ai...0afa9&frcectupt=true
It does not seem to fire in the air, only scratch start. The good news is the cut40 works so not bad for a freebe.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
www.ebay.com.au/i/221839481593?chn=ps&no...paqtjFUaAlcMEALw_wcB
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
You don't have the right torch. The torch for the one I destroyed had a second wire that connected to the extra connector on the front of the machine. from memory it was a Cebora. Probably like this (which you can see has some extra wires)
www.ebay.com.au/i/221839481593?chn=ps&no...paqtjFUaAlcMEALw_wcB
The torch I got was exactly the same as the original, it just had two wires going the the switch on the handle . On the machine there is only a two pin socket on the front.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- tommylight
- Away
- Moderator
- Posts: 19011
- Thank you received: 6371
The torch I got was exactly the same as the original, it just had two wires going the the switch on the handle . On the machine there is only a two pin socket on the front.
Yeah that should be a scratch start, two thin wires for the switch and the main air tube/wire for the torch.
Pilot start must have another thicker wire, usually red colored in 99% of them, some have 2 red wires as per Trafimet spec. That wire is always wired to the torch shield.
As for underwater scratch start I have never tested that, but I do think it will work, but not reliably.
Child the machine have a working Z axis even without a THC, then you can do some tests and check what works and what not, then we can do some HAL-FU to make it start more reliably.
I do not have a scratch start so I can not test, hell I need to build a floating head and something that moves, I have nothing ready except the THCAD mounted to the plasma, and plenty of Mesa cards waiting to be put to good use.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
So THC 10 or 300 ? What is the main difference?
About 45 cents worth of resistors.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
The 10 reads input voltages from 0 to 10 volts. The 300 reads from 0 to 300.So THC 10 or 300 ? What is the main difference?
To get the best resolution on your voltage reading you want to use as much of that range as possible.
When you're using the 300 you're probably messing with much higher and dangerous voltages.
If your using the 300 it's recommended to mount it in your plasma machine itself if there is room or put it in its own enclosure and mount it on the machine. If you use the 10 you can just put it in your enclosure with the rest of your electronics.
That's the way I understand it at least
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Or do I take the cables via two resistors one in each leg to minimise the current to a few mA something like 15k-20K
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.