Hello from Corona Ca

Introductions
21

I did get a error about THC not sensing voltage right at the end of the cut.

I have gotten this error for several reasons: air supply was not sufficient, the Z axis was hanging up a bit requiring realignment and tightening of screws and your “work” clamp may not be maintaining good contact.

As for the changing shapes that @TinWhisperer noted, I had this happen when one of my set screws on the coupler for one of the lead screws was loosening up (X or Y). It was only intermittent at first but then when it got really loose, all of my holes were oblong and outer radiuses were inconsistent (as one might expect).

I am pretty new here as well. Welcome. And you are right: This is a great forum!!!
(My system has been down for 2 months - Dell laptop sent in for warranty work. They originally said the part [motherboard was backordered until April 2023]. Up and running as of yesterday)

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22

I saw that in the final part and wasn’t sure what happened.

I’ll go back through and double-check screw’s tightness. I’m pretty much dead on. So I thought it was a program error or the sheet moved.

23

I am new to this too. Got mine running at the beginning of this year. I have some CAD experience at work.

Fusion is free, I want to learn 3D CAD, and it has the CAM built into it (one stop programming).

I am also trying to (and have) use Inkscape for artsy stuff. But still used Fusion for the CAM. When I get better with Inkscape I expect I will someday buy Sheetcam.

24

I’m in El Cerrito right around the corner from you. Placed my order not too long ago so still waiting for my XR. Might be reaching out for some help!

25

Welcome.

This forum is your best bet to learning everything about setting up and running your machine.

Search and read. You will find your answer. Then, if not, there are a lot of very willing helpful folks here for you.

26

Right on. I’m here and will help if I can. Still learning honestly.

Today was Inkscape (which I’m liking so far for free). Couple of things I’m sure others do better like allowing you to rotate a part around easily. So far all I can figure out in Inkscape is 90° at a click.

The tool
Itself is great then the software you use to support is another story. Got to find what works for you.

I dig that Langmuir gives you a process flow logic and then allows you to swap in your tool of choice. Super positive on the purchase so far for a noob.

Cheers!

27

That looks to be a picture if there’s no supporting .dxf file.

You could try Inkscape and import it, convert it and then save it.

Cheers!

28

I ran that part again and it was perfect. Not sure why it turned out like that before.

On to trying to cut aluminum today. The first cut was total garbage, too much amperage, it looks like and feeds were a bit slow.

I’ve been using the xls chart that was found on the site.

Cutting 6051 1/4 aluminum.
30amps, 70ipm, kerf .06”, arc start .15” cut height .125”, pierce delay 1.0s,

Not sure what tip size the razor weld comes with. I’ve seen folks chatting about down different sizes.

29

Glad you asked. Was really hoping it wasn’t an issue with the machines accuracy!

30

Inkscape is in the digital garbage can and Fusion360 subscription is in full swing. Now that’s got the making parts and gcode going, but still not cutting consistently or cutting consistent parts that is. it’s not a smooth as I would have hoped. Have a call into the team for support find out what I am doing wrong, or what black magic i might need to learn. right now it’s a big 5lbs hammer from where I am sitting, but today was meet with nothing but failures, something different each time, fix one things and that just means one gremlin moved on and new one showed up… grrrr…

31

Fusion is definitely my favorite.
that’s cool you got your workflow figured out.

Could you post some examples of the cut quality?

What kind of problems were you having? And what kind of corrections did you implement?

32

@TinWhisperer, well let me see where to start…

starting yesterday I was attempting to cut some targets. They are out of 1/2 mild steel, 8" in diameter, leveraging the cut settings from hypertherm reference materials:

  • Torch Cutting Height 0.06
  • Initial Arch Start .18 arch
  • Cutting Speed 30ipm (adjusted to 20ipm based on not cutting through)
  • Pierce Delay 1.2
  • Amperage at 65amps (today added 5amps just gits and shiggles)
  • Airflow at 60psi (while running)

Now the odd part is it cuts in a straight line like a champ (yesterday). but today it won’t cut anything due to errors in arch or THC issues. It also cut a nice hole out in a portion of the part. Just not the entire part. It’s not making any sense.

Now where are we, oh yes, today I go out and I think ok, back to basics.
*Check air source for water, check good

  • Check all the inline filters (oh which I have two, 1- on the tank, and the OEM one on the hypertherm. check good
  • Check consumables, check good
  • Check ground, check good
  • Check program, check good
  • Check water level in table, check good,
  • Check myself before i wreck myself, oh wait, no no that’s the 90’s…

Fire up the system, run the part, get the no spark errors messages in firecontrol, touch height too high, or ground no good, or THC sense’s no voltage, arg! Run the THC testing in Firecontrol (firmware 1.11XR) and check good.

I start all over again and reboot the entire thing…no joy, 4 hours wasted and go to grab a beer, because that at this point. That is way more productive than what I am getting out of the machine.

Straight cut to ensure it actually is the right setup. (yesterday)

tempImagerufjFs
tempImagerufjFs1920×2560 140 KB

Target Failed cut 3rd time overlapping to not waste more material ( and, wasting materials ugh) and the actual target or what should be a target. Yet it is because it decides to not cut all the way through in some spots and not in others, etc, etc. (nice edges on the hole it actually cut through on though…insult to injury.

tempImageRYdjfl
tempImageRYdjfl1920×2560 763 KB

Consumables post cutting:

tempImageJLgecm
tempImageJLgecm1920×2560 206 KB

Drank beer, opened the porn box and fired off a support request to Langmuir, came to the forum to read and search more on what I am having issues with. Found out that I have support since it’s and XR. So plan on calling and talking with them tomorrow, if that bring’s not joy. I will look to sell this off and find another solution. :slight_smile:

Time for another beer…oh and all Hypertherm consumables, OEM baby!

33

Is this your Pierce height?

Are you not running a razor weld 45?

How are you setting it to 65 amps?

Seems low I see guys running up at about 75 PSI.

Applying feed rate optimization (slows down in the corners and radius) is a good way of going about it. When you’re developing your toolpaths Fusion it’s in the 2D profile menu. If you search “optimization” above a few topics will come up.

The hypertherm settings are going to be way too fast for the razor weld. 65% of the hypertherm value would be close.

Are those fine cut consumables that you’re using in that picture?
I would not be using fine cut consumables to cut that thick of a material.
Use Standard consumables at 45 amps.

Also think about getting a desiccant cell before your plasma torch.

Try a longer pierce delay too. 1.6-1.8sec

What voltage are you seeing during the cut in fire control?

Are you using smart or nominal voltage in fire control to set your THC.

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34

Your pressure needs to be at 70-75 psi. as Tin stated, and you need to slow cut speed to 20 ipm. for 1/2".

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35

Can I ask a simple question…why not start with thinner gauge material…scraps of 11g…see how it performs…then work your way up…

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36

@toolboy I had done that when I first started and cut some of the bottle openers, and J-hooks, and target stands. had the same quirky issues at the time and was lead to believe it might have been a razor weld issue…so picked up a hypertherm, rechecked all the set procedures and screw lash, etc.

I could do again but wasn’t sure why that would matter,

37

Turn off the THC when you cut the thick stuff. My pro will do that with 3/8 and 1/2 when it’s on for some reason. It’s not needed for thicker material, it won’t move that much.

2 Likes
38

@Bill_A Roger that I will give it a go. Thanks for that advice,

39

You cannot use those fine cut consumables on that half inch plate.

Now that I know you’re running a hypertherm.

Are you running a PowerMax 85?

Use a 65 amp nozzle.

Which swirl ring are you using?

Make sure it’s a double row of holes in your swirl ring.

Find cut consumables use a single row of holes in their swirl ring.

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40

@TinWhisperer - I thought that might have been the issue and swapped them back to the standard consumables that came with the torch last night. Same issues, also was suggested that maybe 60psi was a bit low, so cranked that back up to 90psi.

will keep trying to see what’s what