I’m not sure why, but when it goes to cut that 2nd hole it never comes down and touches off on the sheet.
Something is definitely going on with the IHS switch in your Z axis. Does it throw an error on the screen?
It appears that something is catching the switch and activating it early.
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Look at IHS switch and make sure the tang on switch isn’t pushed into Z screw. This will cause height issues.
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Knick: Couldn’t agree more, it’s odd that everything works on the first cut but soething hangs up on the second. Definitely no expert but line 25 shows rise to 1" then 29 shows (I think to lower -5 which is only half inch(?) which is what the video seems to show.(maybe??)
ds690: It does throw an error but don’t remember what it is. I will make another cut in the morning and snap a pic of what it says.
rat196426: Looking at the Z axis I don’t see what you are calling a tang. Being I switched to a new machine torch there is definitely a good chance I messed something up.
The table did sit idle for a few months and upon looking closer I see a few small spots of rust that formed on the vertical rods. If this is possibly the cause it doesn’t explain how it can make the first cut but not the second…
If the error is “Torch starts moving before cutting voltage was sensed,” that would be logical. That is the error you will get when the pierce delay is too short.
FireControl adds additional time to the first piercing. That is why you are getting your first cut. The second cut, reverts back to your set “pierce delay” of 0.4 and it is not long enough for the torch to fire before the torch gets the signal to start moving.
Another thing you might try is to increase the sampling size with THC, if you are experiencing this with THC on. Go into settings by the THC area on FireControl. I had an issue that was not throwing an error but was stopping. By increasing this sampling, you give the plasma cutter a chance to throw an alarm code.
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Line 29 commands the torch down, up to 5" or until the IHS switch opens.
Again, your issue is not in the programming. It is a mechanical problem with the IHS switch being triggered early. It’s either the Z axis hanging up and triggering the switch or the switch itself catching on the lead screw.
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After moving the Z up and down by hand to look for hanging issues on the switch I don’t see anything so it has to be something with the screw or guide rods which do have a few small spots of surface rust that I guess could cause something to hang up so I am going to dismantle and re-assemble the Z-Axis mechanism next.
SUCCESS !!!
You guys were SPOT ON (as always)
ds690: My hanging issue was a spot of rust on the inside of the left 1/2" rod guides for the Z axis that was hitting the bottom roller at about 3/4" so when I started the first cut below that spot it would make the first cut and then when jogging to the second cut it moved above that spot and would hit it on the way down to the second contact point of the work piece.
ChelanJim: It made the first cut but when it contacted on the second pierce point it tried to fire and threw the “Torch starts moving before cutting voltage was sensed,” code so I increased the pierce delay up to 150% and then everything worked PERFECT!
Cannot thank you guys enough for helping me through this!
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