Tools: Plasma CNC
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Be advised, this page NEEDS WORK!
Tool Description
The Plasma CNC is a 3-axis CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) plasma cutter. It is capable of cutting 4 foot by 4 foot sheets of steel, aluminum, or stainless steel; smaller pieces can also be used. Plasma cutter is based on a Lincoln Electric Pro-Cut 60 Plasma Cutting System. (Code: 9819-1). The Torch Height Controller is a Proma elektronika. CNC table is Lightning CNC. CNC hardware is TBD. CNC software is LinuxCNC 2.8.2.
Classes
- Classes are offered on a regular basis.
- Check meetup for the next scheduled class: Tampa Hackerspace Meetup
- Prerequisites
Generating Toolpaths
VCarve
Select "THS Plasma(inch)(*.ngc)" when generating a toolpath. Which should be loaded on the space's computers. If you have your own copy, see github.
Fusion 360
A post processor can be found in github.
Pre-Use checklist
- Startup and Zeroing
- Turn on wall controller box and PC
- Ensure E-Stop button is pressed down
- Launch THS Plasma on PC
- Reset E-Stop (twist and will pop up)
- Press Power soft button
- Open Homing button List
- Home all Axis
- DRO numbers will change from red to green
- Prepare your material
- Place material to be cut on table
- Move the plasma cutter to the Lower Left corner of where you want to cut on your material
- Toggle rabbit/turtle icons to change jogging speed
- Press ZERO WORK LOCATION
- DRO will now show X and Y at zero
- Load Your Project G-Code File
- Minimize THS Plasma and copy your file from thumb drive to the “G-Code” folder on the PC Desktop (create a sub-folder with your name)
- Maximize THS Plasma and Switch to Auto Mode
- Open file selector in lower left and locate your project file
- You will see your design in the preview window
- Verify Cut Parameters
- Suggested starting values for steel sheet metal:
- Pierce Height: 0.160
- Pierce Delay: 0.1
- Cut Height: 0.040
- Cut Feed Rate: 160.0
- On Plasma Cutter
- Torch Height Controller: 085V
- Plasma Cutter Range: ~60% of Yellow/1
- Suggested starting values for steel sheet metal:
- Perform a “Cold” Cut
- This will validate settings without enabling plasma cutter
- Verify torch is DISABLED
- Press Run Program or Green button on pendant
- Enable Plasma Cutter and Cut Material
- Pull safety curtain and wear shaded eye protection
- Open compressed air valve
- Turn plasma cutter to ON
- Toggle Run/Purge to Purge on plasma cutter
- Verify air pressure (on wall) is 60PSI while purging
- Toggle Run/Purge to Run (air will stop after 20 seconds)
- Set torch to enable on PC
- Press Run Program or Green button on pendant
Post-Use Checklist (cleanup, etc)
- Once air purge has STOPPED turn plasma cutter to OFF
- Close compressed air valve
- Press PARK CUTTER
- (press PARK CUTTER again if you get mdi error)
- Press down E-Stop
- Exit Linux CNC (Bottom right of plasma app)
- Shutdown PC (Top left of desktop)
- Turn Wall Controller Box OFF
Tool Use
Please take a class or ask for individual instruction. See #cnc-plasma slack channel.
Consumables
TBD...