Homemade, cheap, plasma CNC

phillc54 wrote:

I did a cut with a finecut tip and then a cut with a general purpose tip on a mid range thickness material and averaged the kerf width and that is my SheetCAM tool zero kerfwidth. Tool zero is the only tool I need in SheetCAM then.

That's a much better idea than just setting the KW to 0.00.  I like it.

snowgoer540 wrote:

Try this button code, it ought to do what you're after (at least it did in a sim here ):

Code:

BUTTON_7_NAME = ZERO ON\GREEN BUTTON_7_CODE = G10 L20 P0 X69.533 Y-9.724 \ G0 X0 Y0 BUTTON_8_NAME = ZERO ON\RED BUTTON_8_CODE = G10 L20 P0 X58.064 Y-25.190 \ G0 X0 Y0

Without seeing your g-code, assuming you're using the sheetcam post, if you remove these two lines from your g-code, you should be able to run whatever material is selected in the drop down above the graphics preview window:

(note that the lines may not be exactly this, and that XXX is the material number)

Code:

m190pXXX m66p3l3q2

That ought to do it, but be sure to report back!

Thanks Snow.
[attachment=42735"]zeroonlasersometimes.png[/attachment]
Feedback = works great.... most of the time. Initially it worked, then i loaded another file and re-zeroed and this happened.

Note the torch didn't go all the way to zero.


However, I was able to push my 'GO TO ZERO' button and it moved to the correct spot.


Yes, using sheetcam. I didn't realise that you were editing each code after setting it up. I have done this and it works a treat. Ovbiously it wont work for everthing, however it will be handy for some parts I just cut from scrap, now i can use whatever material I have. Cheers

The editor is abhorrent here.  But The pics
did work at one point so I saw what you mean.

may be an issue in our end, I/we will get back to you.

I don’t know what you mean that you didn’t know I was editing each code after setting it up?

but you could edit the post processor to not include the two lines if you’d like.

my work flow is different, but there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat

   

snowgoer540 wrote:

The editor is abhorrent here.  But The pics
did work at one point so I saw what you mean.

may be an issue in our end, I/we will get back to you.

I don’t know what you mean that you didn’t know I was editing each code after setting it up?

but you could edit the post processor to not include the two lines if you’d like.

my work flow is different, but there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat
 

Thank You.

I think the editing was me. sorry.

With the G Code, I thought you may have had it set in the PP. However I didn't realise about the kerf compensation that would be affected. It's all good, by editing the G Codes I need to in QtPlasmac I can now cut the same bits from a range of materials.

I am still tweeking settings as I go so there will still be a lot of adjusting for my materials in sheetcam. Currently working through hole cutting, for 5mm - I draw a 13mm hole, but cut a 12.4mm hole. For 3mm - I draw a 11mm hole, but cut a 10.4mm hole. So still a little bit of work to do with my kerf with and probably cut height. Or about 1/32 out at the moment.

 

i think i fixed the above post by RNJFAB, still one picture does not show.