Error when loading into Fire Control (Solved: FireControl needs the enclosure and table connected)

Software FireControl
1

Hello,
First timer here trying to learn fusion360 and all that goes with it! I tried to upload my project to Fire Control and received an error message. Trying to figure out what where my error is? I also tried to find the G-Code so I could read the lines and find the line where the error is. The error I got reads…"Program check encountered an error, Error @ line 56; M30. My design is very simple, rectangle with hole in the center of it. This is a practice activity for me to try and get things working. I am guessing maybe my issue is in my torch settings.
Thank you!
Chad

2

Open the gcode file with a text editor program. (Usually just double clicking on it will open it in the appropriate program). Copy the text and paste it here in your post and we can see. It is likely you have the wrong post processor set up in Fusion 360.

3

Thank you for the reply, I will double check what post processor I downloaded when I get home. I will also try and get the G-code posted.
Thank you

4

Looks like I have, Fire Control V1.6 (2) .cps set up in Fusion360.

Also, I copied and pasted the G-Code. Actually, surprised I figured out how to do that!

The error was in line 56 : M30

Not sure what the (PS60) means.

G90 G94
G17
G20
H0

(2D Profile2)
G0 X2.8063 Y1.9669
G92 Z0.
G38.2 Z-5. F100.
G38.4 Z0.5 F20.
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.04 (IHS Springback + Backlash)
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.15 (Pierce Height)
M3
G4 P0.5
G0 Z0.063 (Cut Height)
H1
G1 X2.8047 Y2.0069 F60.
G3 X2.8679 Y0.423 I0.0316 J-0.792 F60.
G3 X2.8047 Y2.0069 I-0.0316 J0.792
G1 X2.8063 Y1.9669
H0
M5
G0 Z1.

G0 X2.8037 Y2.4974
G92 Z0.
G38.2 Z-5. F100.
G38.4 Z0.5 F20.
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.04 (IHS Springback + Backlash)
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.15 (Pierce Height)
M3
G4 P0.5
G0 Z0.063 (Cut Height)
H1
G1 Y2.4574 F60.
G1 X5.0727
G2 X5.7002 Y1.8299 I0. J-0.6275
G1 Y0.6
G2 X5.0727 Y-0.0275 I-0.6275 J0.
G1 X0.6
G2 X-0.0275 Y0.6 I0. J0.6275
G1 Y1.8299
G2 X0.6 Y2.4574 I0.6275 J0.
G1 X2.8037
G1 Y2.4974
H0
M5
G0 Z1.

M30
(PS60)

Thank you for your time and help it very much appreciated!
Chad

5

There is nothing wrong with having that M30 line there. The PS 60 line is the program speed.

Is that all of the code? There should be another line at the very top that says something like (v1.6-af)

6

Hello and thank you for the reply.

Yes, the top 5 lines read as follows…

  1. (v1.6 - af)
    2 G90 - G94
  2. G17
  3. G20
  4. H0

I did try to create the same simple design this AM before work and got the same error message as previously.

The design is a simple rectangle with a hole in the center and filleted edges.

Thank you,
Chad

7

That code looks like it should work.

M30 is expected. It tells FireControl that it is the “End of the program”

I think it is FireControl that is having problems. Uninstall, find the folder were it was installed and delete. Re-install.
See if it behaves this time around.

Here are some common things to know about g-code:
Langmuir writes:
H0 is written into the preamble of every program to ensure that the machine controller has
control of the Z-Axis to perform the IHS sequence:
(v1.6-af)
G90 G94
G17
G20
H0 (Turn off THC)
H1 is written once the torch has fired, delayed, and moved to Cut Height - before starting a cut
loop. Once the cut loop has finished and the torch must retract for the rapid to the next cut, the
Machine controller needs to be in control of the Z-Axis so an H0 is again written, generally
before the Torch Off (M5) command.
And the last line of code must be: M30 - end program
The very last line needs to be the program speed (cut speed) in parenthesis like (PS120) so this
will appear as:
M30
(PS120)

Pre-amble
Version Comment
The First line in a FireControl Posted Program contains a comment that identifies the version
of the post processor that generated the program. This comment is intended for use with the
two Langmuir Systems supported Posts: Autodesk Fusion and SheetCAM.
Note: If you are developing your own post, be sure to use either (v1.6-af) or (v1.6-sc) in the first
line of your program to ensure that FireControl will accept it. If you publish your post online,
please make Langmuir Systems aware by contacting our support team and we can assign a
character code for your post so that future versions of FireControl will accept it without
needing to mask as Fusion or SheetCAM.
Ex.
(v1.6-af)
G90 G94
G17
G20
H0

8

Thank you for the reply. When I get home from work I will Uninstall FireControl and the folder and then Re-install and see if that works.
Thanks again for the support!
Chad

9

Hello,

I came home and un-installed Firecontrol from my computer and then re-installed it. Unfortunately, I received the same error code. I feel like this may be user error? I also uploaded my f3d fusion design. I hope it can be opened up. I don’t know if it will help or not?
Thank you for helping me get started!

Here is the G-code from my most recent attempt.

G90 G94
G17
G20
H0

(2D Profile1)
G0 X3.2321 Y1.1896
G92 Z0.
G38.2 Z-5. F100.
G38.4 Z0.5 F20.
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.04 (IHS Springback + Backlash)
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.15 (Pierce Height)
M3
G4 P0.5
G0 Z0.063 (Cut Height)
H1
G1 X3.3239 Y1.3637 F60.
G3 X2.0718 Y0.5748 I-0.626 J-0.3945 F60.
G3 X3.3239 Y1.3637 I0.626 J0.3945
G1 X3.1272 Y1.3561
H0
M5
G0 Z1.

G0 X4.1377 Y2.1365
G92 Z0.
G38.2 Z-5. F100.
G38.4 Z0.5 F20.
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.04 (IHS Springback + Backlash)
G92 Z0.
G0 Z0.15 (Pierce Height)
M3
G4 P0.5
G0 Z0.063 (Cut Height)
H1
G1 X4.2361 Y1.966 F60.
G1 X4.8957
G2 X5.4232 Y1.4385 I0. J-0.5275
G1 Y0.5
G2 X4.8957 Y-0.0275 I-0.5275 J0.
G1 X0.5
G2 X-0.0275 Y0.5 I0. J0.5275
G1 Y1.4385
G2 X0.5 Y1.966 I0.5275 J0.
G1 X4.2361
G1 X4.3345 Y2.1365
H0
M5
G0 Z1.

M30
(PS60)

test v1.f3d (108.7 KB)

10

OK, been doing more research, as I am obsessed with getting this thing to work!

After reading more I found that maybe I have to run the “homing procedure”

One thing I didn’t mention is that I do not have my control box hooked up to the table. I do not have internet in my shop so I had to bring the box to my house in order to have an internet connection. Could this be my problem?

This is what I found doing some research:

To unlock, all you have to do is running the homing procedure (Grbl command $H). You can also unlock the alarm with the $X command, but be careful, this does not allow Grbl to know its position.

I will hook my box up to the table and try to run the program being hooked up to the table. Keeping my fingers crossed it works!

Thanks
Chad

11

If that works…I am now going to need to add that to my list of questions to ask! :wink:

The more information that you can supply, the better we can try to help. We need this:
(note, this is a form text so you may have already supplied some of the following or may not be necessary right now. If that is the case, I will try to strike-through).
• any recent changes: new electrical equipment, generator problems, circuit breakers tripping, flickering lights
• Do a sample design, something simple like a 2 inch x 2 inch box with a 3/4 inch circle in the middle of the box. Manufacture the gcode and attempt to run it on your setup. Report your results and share the gcode.
• CAD program used
• CAM program used (SheetCAM or Fusion 360)
• metal thickness/type
• work lead attached to shiny/clean metal
• work lead, torch cable, THC cable and printer cable to the enclosure are not touching/crossing paths nor coiled up
• copy of the gcode of your test file
• photo of how your torch is mounted
• photos of your consumables
• photo of your VIM box so we can see what leads and connections are used
• What plasma cutter are you using? Are you using OEM consumables? Are they standard or fine-cut consumables.
• What is the brand of the consumables (not the machine they are labeled for)
• air quality and quantity (pressure gauge at the plasma cutter), what methods of drying employed. You need 6 CFM @ 90 psi and it needs to be dry.
• Smart Voltage on nominal voltage
• Have you had any successful cuts with the current setup and metal type/thickness?
• Can you fire the torch manually thru FireControl?
• Are you couplers tight?
• Is there any connection issues with the IHS contacts in the z-axis carriage?
• Have you lubricated the lead screws?
• Are you using a laptop and is it plugged in or running on battery only? Fully charged?
• Cut height: have you measured what your cut height actually is when you set it at 0.06 inches for normal consumables and 0.14 for Hypertherm SYNC consumables?

• Is the enclosure hooked up to the plasma table?

1 Like
12

No the box is not hooked up to the table it is in my house because I don’t have internet in my shop. I will hook it up to the table when I get home from work and see if that changes anything.

Thanks
Chad

13

I understand. It was sort-of a joke I was making. Sorry.

14

Hello,

I was thinking I could load a program into Firecontrol and have it hooked up to the enclosure and simulate or test run the program without it being hooked up to the actual table.

Seems I was wrong, took everything ( enclosure, computer ) back down to the shop and plugged all wires into the enclosure hooked it up and it worked.

I did not get any error messages, and I was able to make a few (3) test cuts. So, all along if I would have had everything hooked up, I would have never got the error message I was getting.

One thing I really need to “nail down” is making sure my lead ins are small enough cut all letters out and not cause an error.

I would like to practice by making small items and then putting letters or names inside. ie. bottle opener.

I did take a video of my last cut, when I get a chance I will post it. I am a green horn when it comes to technology.

Thanks for all your help,
Chad

2 Likes
15

Thank you for returning to tell us.

I know that FireControl relies on the enclosure to get some of its information when loading a program. Many of us have tried to run FireControl without connecting to the enclosure and found that to be a meaningless exercise. You took it a step further. Now we all know.

Good luck to you.

16

Since his trial was unsuccessful, the inability to run when not connected to the table probably has to do with the signal it sends to the motors when the On/Off switch is first flipped.
Anyway, a small box simulator would be a nice offering by LS. A lot of us do CAD/CAM work in the house and carry or email files to the table location. Would be worth a few $$$ to be able to simulate inside at my CAD laptop.

17

I can see the value when you are first learning everything but I have confidence that if my gcode file is right and the table/cutter/air compressor are set right, things will cut correctly.

2 Likes