Cutting Issue *LONG READ WARNING*

Gosh awful Gremlins!

You never want to take your car to a mechanic until something is reproducible consistently.

1 Like

If only you would have followed one of our suggestions…we could have claimed “partial” success. :rofl:

Yes…I realize this is very frustrating. Whatever is happening will need to get worse and then it will be resolved. I had inconsistent holes and then finally one of the couplers nearly fell off. Then I fixed it.

2 Likes

It’s just nuts that the issue is so random

you sure chastised me for my response but it was you that did not read. i asked you to check the settings in your thc with fire control. did you do that?

also a simple rectangle won’t give you thc problems like small fine details.

with your attitude i’m done trying to help. don’t need to be reminded to do a better job reading. when it is you that didn’t read.

1 Like

We also run an XL, and I admit I’m stumped. Can you correlate the jaggy cuts to a specific axis? Or when it occurs, does it happen across both? If it’s related to a certain axis, I’d consider swapping the drivers in the control box to see if the problem moves.

Your clean cuts look great! I can understand why the jaggy cuts are of concern…

Not chastised; someone did suggest turning off THC and I did so on a trial run when I initially posted my issue on the FB group. I apologize for coming off rude, but do understand if you’re done suggesting anything.

Appreciate the insight.

The large sign experienced jagged cuts on both the X and Y axis. This is when I was first suggested to look into my Z axis/THC just the same way @Gogo suggested.

The circular cut on the 1/4" brackets also experienced jagged cuts on both the X and Y axis.

The oval-shape cut out today on 10 gauge was more X axis and slightly Y axis.

I moved and zeroed my torch to cut another bracket in the same area after moving my sheet to see if it was my table as having a “problem area” and did not experience any jagged cut.

And thank you for the kind words! I only posted the above work as a means of showing inconsistency with the bad cut, while most cuts now are consistently well.

did you check your settings in fire control? i speak from experience

1 Like

I did speak to Gene this morning, asking a specific question about the torch.

He asked for me to check to see if the o-ring (where the torch plugs in) was still intact and I confirmed it was. He said to possibly run air and blow out the line through the torch (with consumables removed) in the event of any obstructions. This suggestion was based on the “flutter” I mentioned when the jagged cuts appeared.

I did so by running a new G code file with THC disabled. I left all settings alone as far as pierce delay and height, but removed THC as part of the file.

I use Fusion 360.

no in the firecontrol software. there are z axis settings in there. it’s something with torch height. it is sawing.

also check to see if the bottom of your gantry is ever touching your water pan as it moves. mine started dragging on it. long shot but i had to clearance mine

1 Like

No, I didn’t do anything at all on the Firecontrol side.

I’ll do as suggested on the next cut; I just posted the file and added NOTHC to the name so it didn’t overwrite my THC-enabled file of it. But yes I’ve seen Z axis controls there but never messed with it with the exception of just moving it up and down for other reasons.

Can say my water pan does not make contact. Can only confirm this as some months back I was getting beveling on thick metals (thin too just not noticeable) and realized when I panned my torch the actual height to work piece changed meaning my gantry tube was not square.

I know you didn’t ask about squareness but just thought I’d mention it cause I have messed with that area of my table before and have heard of people’s setup making contact.

You know, given the really terrific cuts you get and then seemingly random raggedy cuts, I have to ask where you are located.

I once worked on a project that was extremely high precision and after several months of debugging, it was determined that the vibration problem coincided perfectly with the freight train that occasionally visited the spur next to the site.

Maybe it’s seismic, maybe from a train, maybe from vibrations your compressor is sending through the floor. Maybe none of the above. Just sayin’

2 Likes

just because software says something was done it’s not gospel. may be nothing but check fire control thc settings.

1 Like

It’s worth checking; I’m a stay at home watching our 4 month old but I’ll see if I can get some cutting done either tomorrow or this weekend and will ensure the settings on Firecontrol.

That’s one thing I did not do for sure as suggested.

I made a comment about this, and it’s so bizarre you mention it.

-----"The fact that I still had that jagged edge in my last pieces bugs the fuck out of me.

Part of me wants to bend some flat stock in the form of a U and weld some square tube in the middle to reinforce my table at the bottom between the legs as it wobbles slightly during cutting/torch movement

Not saying that will cure the issue but when you’re troubleshooting something, you suddenly notice everything-----

During my dry runs when I was confirming whether the coupler was slipping or not, I was standing on the other side of the table and noticed tons of movement back and forth. That’s what prompted my idea of reinforcing it near the bottom.

Also, just for anyone that comes across this thread I’d like to share my settings as I hate those that act like gatekeepers.

10 gauge mild steel, 1.1mm tip, 50ipm for outside cut, 40ipm for inside cut, 60psi, 40 amp, and 1.2 second pierce delay

theses are very different from hypertherm. why two speed settings for inside and outside. same cut different direction and place. not familiar with the machine does it not do 45amps?

I reinforced my 2x2 by putting a lower shelf on it and an sloped crossbrace. That made it significantly more solid feeling.

1 Like

you want to slow your tight circles and objects to 60% don’t know how to do that in Fusion360. i use sheetcam and it’s already there but leave the rest at normal speed both inside and out.

1 Like