yes, I can, and no doubt this is what ill resort too. I'm totally broke after buying the CNC, for the next two months. Be nice to just design the holder for the machine torch rather than the hand torch but ill just deal with it i guess.
'I dont see a reason' why i cant cut my hand torch and then splice / plumb / add some mig cable to it, terminating with a no-name machine torch. I have the important bit, the proprietary torch connection to the hypertherm machine.
I bought a machine torch when I built the plasma table, main reason was because I knew I would be using the plasma away from the CNC Table for occasional hand cutting. I was at first having issues with the machine torch so made up a quick bracket to attach the hand torch to see where the problem lay (plasma or torch) and it worked well, all I had to do was cable tie the switch to keep it pulled in, think I would do that in your situation rather than hacking up a decent/expensive hand torch.
Oh best say my Plasma is not a Hypertherm but rather a TecArc Opticut 65 although I don't think that would make any difference.
What i dont know is, will i be able to trigger the hypertherm using the controller on the machine, or will i have to get a new interface like a computer in order to use it as a plama cutter?
At the mo this is the control box -
(please ignore the arrow)
1. VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) - Fuling DZB200B002.2L2DK
2,3,4 - Stepper motor drivers - Leadshine M542-05
5. Controller interface card, please see below, I cant find more info on this
6. big power supply - KLH KLH500W - 48A (48 volts / 10 amps)
7. small power supply - KLH KLH70W-24-A (24 volts / 3 amps) - whats it for?
The above board connects to the below controller - rzthnc-053xsi-080407
Want to say sorry about this. I'm trying to figure out how to proceed. I have a plan for the physical structure but I'm still trying to figure out the electronics.
I came across this thread a few weeks ago, you replied to it way back on 08. The machine is identical to mine.
Not sure if that is the same controller as that guy seemed to have a scsi port, yours looks like a Parallel port.
Do you have any documentation?
Should be relatively straightforward but exactly how easy would depend on the voltage of the Inputs/Outputs on that board and what your Hypertherm requires.
Hi, thanks, no, no documentation whatsoever. I got artcam pro on a flash disk and that's it. I paid 2200 for it and was just happy to have a complete cnc, saved me a lot of time building one, i think that was going to take over a year.
This is my port, had a look online and reckon its an SCSI port
Cris hi, yah I was thinking that about the spindle on/off, be nice to get that going. There is documentation about the VFD online, as well as youtube wiring vids for it, which is handy.
My multimeter, was rubbish to start with, and is now busted, this might be an excuse to buy a decent one. I'm pretty broke after buying the machine though!
No probs, will just type this before I head off or I will forget
Thinking a bit more about it, been a while since I did mine. Torch on/off is controlled via a relay so no probs there with voltages, just use what suits. Hypertherm usually can output a divided voltage so if you are getting a THC then you can likely connect that direct. Other than that then other signals will likely be between the controller board and THC so won't matter for the Hypertherm.
There should also be an Arc OK signal from the Plasma, possibly relay contacts in the Hypertherm, if so then again voltage irrelevant.
Regarding the breakout board in the above pic, may be easier junking that and using something like the CSMIO/IP-M, all depends on what info you have on that breakout board.
Had a look at the CSMIO/IP-M, looks interesting certainly, could be my new little friend.
I'll have a look again later and see can i find info on the board I have. Be nice to re-use it since cashflow is tight till June after buying this machine.
But, this is a long term project and whatever way forward is fine with me.
With the CSMIO/IP-M, I can use any computer, like a laptop, since its using ethernet, is it? I dont have to go for an older desktop.
The Hypertherm 45 uses 'dry contact closures'. an external relay contact closes to tell the plasma to fire, and the plasma replies by closing internal contacts to say 'arc ok'
A laptop should be fine with any of the external controllers used with Mach.
Having said that not all external controllers support Plasma functions and from what others say the parallel port may still offer the best when talking plasma.
I'm not sure I fully understand how it works. In my head, i imagine it cuts for 5 inches, jumps down to see where the surface is and then resets the torch height if need be.
I will be getting one, but its not first on the list. First on the list is a new table structure to replace this one, and second is whatever electronics i need to make it work.
I'm thinking 100x100x6.5mm built like so for the table.
That stuff is so heavy it doesnt need anything else added to be rigid, so will free up floor space.
The table as it is now, I would be paranoid to put 8mm sheets on it, its build for wood and plastic sheets.
Back to the THC, i dont really work with anything thinner than 3mm, so im not sure its needed?
I have an interesting plan for the extraction also, I've not seen it done before, ill do up a drawing later. Basically Ill have a downdraft extractor under the slats but only in the locality of the cut. it will be pushed along with the y axis and will blow the fumes out the bottom of the table.