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© 2017 Vital Systems, Inc. 

 

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www.vitalsystem.com 

Plasma Cut Sequence 

 
The Plasma Cut Sequence is executed when a command is made to turn ON the Torch, via the Screen 

Interface, or through the M3 Command in MDI or while running a GCode file. This sequence allows the 
torch to be positioned correctly above the material before any XY motion is performed. 

 

 

 
 

 

Step 1:  The height that the Z-Axis was at when the cut sequence began  

Step 2:  The torch head comes down to contact the material to determine the material height  

Step 3:  The torch head lifts to ignition height and turns on. 

Step 4:  Once the Arc Ok signal turns on, and the torch lifts to the pierce height 

Step 5:  Pierce delay is complete and XY motion begins 

Step 6:  THC delay is complete and the THC takes over Z-Axis control  

Summary of Contents for ArcPro Mach4

Page 1: ...Pro Mach4 Plasma Screen User Guide Document Revision 1 10 Updated June 13 2017 2017 Vital Systems Inc Phoenix AZ USA For more information please visit the product web page http www vitalsystem com arc...

Page 2: ...ngs 11 Probe Limit 11 Probe Speed 11 THC Max 11 THC Min 11 Ignition Height 11 Pierce Height 11 Pierce Delay 11 THC Delay 12 Anti Dive 12 THC Control 12 THC Mode 12 Probe Once 12 Set Clear Ref 13 Torch...

Page 3: ...The system hangs up during the TorchON or M3 sequence 22 The Torch does not move toward the designated probe limit position 22 The Torch completes the Torch ON setup sequence but does not move up or d...

Page 4: ...l hold no one other than myself responsible for mistakes errors material loss personal damages secondary damages faults or errors of any kind caused by any circumstance any bugs or any undesired respo...

Page 5: ...hardware setup and possesses basic knowledge and understanding of Mach4 CNC Software This document DOES NOT serve as a primer or tutorial for the use of Mach4 As such readers without basic understandi...

Page 6: ...egra NOTE To reduce the possibility of the electrical interference entering into the Motion Controller the connection should be made with a shielded cable the shielding must be connected to ground ter...

Page 7: ...tal Systems Inc 6 www vitalsystem com NOTE It is highly recommended to use a separate 12V or 24V 1Amp Power Supply for the Compact THC 150 to avoid high voltage surges from feeding into the Motion Con...

Page 8: ...1kV HiCON Integra Connecting PNP Digitize Sensor Ohmic Probe 3 9K 1W GND Earth GND Integra Input 3 Digitize 0 47uF 1kV HiCON Integra Earth NOTE It is highly recommended to follow the circuit diagram b...

Page 9: ...Pro Plasma profile from the product website http www vitalsystem com arcpro Open Mach4 loader and click on Import Profile Browse for the downloaded profile m4prof file and click Open If you wish to re...

Page 10: ...2017 Vital Systems Inc 9 www vitalsystem com Mach4 I O Configuration...

Page 11: ...l This panel serves as the control interface for starting stopping THC Mode e g the automatic adjustment of the torch height while cutting THC Settings Settings for THC mode can be configured on this...

Page 12: ...ght reference position Ignition Height The Ignition Height is used on thick material where the pierce height is higher than the plasma head can easily establish an arc On thinner material the Ignition...

Page 13: ...ator control for initiating THC Mode and for turning on the torch THC Mode The Torch Height Control THC reads the tip voltage while cutting and automatically adjusts the cutting head up and down to ma...

Page 14: ...ight If the Probe Once setting is disabled then this setting will have no effect Torch ON This button turns the torch ON OFF Speed This value controls the THC up down feedrate NOTE Aside from this but...

Page 15: ...correctly above the material before any XY motion is performed Step 1 The height that the Z Axis was at when the cut sequence began Step 2 The torch head comes down to contact the material to determi...

Page 16: ...he Z axis can now be controlled from Mach Enable THC Motion through Scripts The following lines of script can be called in order to enable THC Mode NOTE This sequence in the diagram above requires the...

Page 17: ...at will setup the Torch Height Control operation 7 At Step1 of the plasma cut sequence the torch should start descending and will wait for the DIGITIZE input signal If the DIGITIZE signal is not trigg...

Page 18: ...ArcPro Screen to turn on the torch 4 The Torch ON setup sequence should start probe ignition pierce etc 5 When the Setup Sequence is done the Z motion will be locked by the anti dive feature until XY...

Page 19: ...he THC150 test mode is initially turned OFF and the ARC OK and DIGITIZE signals are not active 6 Enable Mach4 7 Click on the THC Mode button on the ArcPro Screen 8 Click on the Torch ON button to init...

Page 20: ...e File 1 Click on the Load GCode button at the lower left of the ArcProScreen 2 Select the desired pre made GCode file and click Open NOTE It is recommended to properly setup all hardware and software...

Page 21: ...Once the GCode file is loaded click on the Enable button at the lower left of the ArcPro screen to Arm the system 4 Click the THC Mode button on the screen if the LED is not ON then THC mode is turne...

Page 22: ...Pro screen toggle properly The controller was busy executing another motion sequence In most scenarios this error shouldn t occur Check the GCode File or MDI command being executed before the TorchON...

Page 23: ...if a work offset is being used If a work offset is applied the offset values may be set to zero from the View Fixture Offsets window Mach4 is not configured with the correct unit of measurement Go to...

Page 24: ...Torch UP DOWN on the THC150 and make sure that they change correctly i e the UP DOWN commands are correctly sent in response to the detected feedback voltage See the THC150 manual for more details The...

Page 25: ...2017 Vital Systems Inc 24 www vitalsystem com Additional References HiCON Integra User Guide Mach4 HiCON Integration Manual Compact THC 150 Manual...

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