Accumove torch diving

We recently retrofit accumove 3 onto our X table. I'm having problems with the torch diving suddenly and tripping the breakaway. Set to Auto mode, voltage sampling is turned off. I've got all of the correct cut parameters and voltages entered into the software. Most noticeably it seems to be happening on holes, but occasionally it will happen on a straight cut (middle of a square plate for example) Everything appears to be grounded properly. Is there something i'm missing?

 

I would recommend using the SAMPLING. As this will "update" the voltage from the cut prior for the next cut so your settings don't have to be exact. So think of it as a AUTO AUTO with Sampling ON.

 

I have tried it with sampling on, but in cases where you're cutting holes and then an external shape, it gave me a much higher cut voltage

 

Hmm... well the strange thing is why LOCKOUT isn't making sure that the head inst moving up/down during that cut. Interested in seeing your file you are cutting. send to support@torchmate.com Attn: CHAD Ill try it on our system here and post back.

 

Thanks, I sent the file off ATTN to you.

 

Having the same issue here. Have you checked your electrode? Sometimes I replace with a new one and it will work fine but I does seem to blow through them fast.

 

Yes I've changed consumables out, and it still does dives.

 

We're still having problems with this. cut a few parts today without an issue, then torch dives on a hole and stops the program.

 

You can try upping the corner delay found under Machine Settings you can also adjust your Gain, this found under the Advanced Tab. Increasing your Damping Gain will make the height control less responsive to Arc Voltage, the other two is best to leave alone as they affect how the lifter reacts to small changes in the voltage. Think of it as driving a car, once you are in your lane you make small corrections to stay in your lane, if you make large corrections you will be swerving all over the road to maintain you lane.

 

These are my machine settings. Just went out and tried it again, pierces, begins to move and slams down into the plate. Something goofy is going on. All of my cut parameters are set correctly, ground clamp is right on the plate. How much do I adjust those settings?

 

Try increasing your Damping Gain to 25, also run it in manual mode to compare what the arc voltage is reading to what you have adjusted the Set Voltage, and adjust Set Voltage accordingly then switch to Auto Mode.

Also after the corner delay time has expired and your voltage is still high then this will tell the AVHC to drop the torch to adjust for the Set Voltage which is at a lower value than what your voltage is currently at, the affect of lowering the torch drops the current voltage which may cause it to dive into the plate.

If .5 seconds is not a long enough time period for the current voltage to settle down, then increase this delay. Ideally after the time period has expired the torch should not jump, this would indicate after the delay expired the current voltage did not match the set voltage and the torch height had to adjust to accommodate the set voltage.

 

Okay, that appeared to help with the diving so far. If you have a nest of parts, is there a way to "jump to" a different part to cut, like there was in the old TM4 driver software? I've tried using the "Move to here" feature on the viewport, and it will move to whereever i've selected, but once I hit "start" it just goes back to the last part it was working at.

 

Yes you can right click and select Run From Here instead of Move to Here, the torch will move to that position and you can select Run Job to skip any parts that have already been cut.

In TM4 you could skip nested parts and run from where the torch is currently sitting at, although this was a tedious process and a work around if you knew what you were doing. Not doable in Accumove unless you were to set program zero off the sheet the appropriate distance from where you part is positioned in the gcode.

 

Okay, just started the file over. Monitored voltage in manual mode, and set the software to that voltage(which was 137v). Cut the first part with no problem, started cutting the hole in the 2nd part and it dove into the plate and stopped. This is frustrating. Everything is grounded to the table, and the table is grounded to an earth ground. Could I be picking up any noise from the cable that goes from the VFD box to the accumove 3 box? Not sure what to do

 

What is your amps, cut speed and material thickness you are cutting, and what size is the hole. What version is the software that you are running, found under Machine Settings.

 

Powermax 105
.25" Mild Steel
45a
48ipm
137v
Hole size is .5"
Software version is 1.0.20

 

Increase your Distance to Corner in Machine Settings, looking at the Dashboard on the right side of the screen, the Lockout indicator should remain lit during the entire duration of a circle as well should light up when it approaches the distance to corner as set.

 

Ok, I have been watching the lockout light, and it doesn't illuminate when it approaches a corner, until the very last one. (cutting rectangles with radius corners). I've increased the distance to corner from .5 to .75 and will try it

 

It appears corner lockout only works on sharp corners, such as an angle greater than 20 degrees, as well as the beginning and end of a part, so you would not see it lockout on the first 3 outside radiused corners of your rectangle, would lockout on the last corner as it approaches the end of the cut. The same with interior circles, would lock out only at the beginning and end of the circle as it is not slowing down to traverse the path around the circle. Only other suggestion for you is to up your voltage, try setting at 140 or higher, for this material thickness and amperage.

 

Okay, now I can't even run a file. I set program zero, reset Z position and it says Overtravel Detected and I have to redatum the machine. Try again, this time I tried to set the Z axis to "top of plate" and got the same overtravel error. Do I just need to uninstall and reinstall software at this point?