Accumove torch diving

I would not do that, you can login as Admin go to Machine Settings and load a configuration, such as Torchmate 2, then load the correct configuration and press Factory Reset, then close the VMD software and reopen it. To see if that resets the Z axis.

 

That fixed the Z axis problem. Im still having the problem of the torch diving into the material and tripping the breakaway. Lockout is not always locking out on holes. I watch the indicator light, its illuminated at first, then about half way through the hole the light shuts off for a moment and turns back on. Just now, cutting some 3/8 steel plate, it dove down on a straight line and tripped the break away.

 

The height control and the breakaway are doing there job, if the torch is contacting the plate during a straight cut then this would indicate your voltage is to low, or it is removing more material that the machine can keep up with and it is diving to find the material. You had mentioned you are not using Sample Voltage in Auto Mode, indicating that voltage is to high. The way Sample Voltage works is at some point after the torch pierces the metal and after X and Y motion begin the voltage is going to settle down, Corner Lockout controls the delay to allow for voltage to settle down. The delay needs to be long enough to allow the voltage to settle down after the pierce, default is .5 inches (notice inches not seconds). Once the delay expires the torch may jump up or down, indicating the delay is not long enough as it is reacting to the voltage. Ideally you should see no transition after the lockout has expired to where voltage takes over controlling the height of the torch.

There are diminishing returns to this taking into account your material, if during the lockout time the material has warped significantly then by the time the delay expires the torch is already to close to the material or is dragging the material, and you are going to get a subpar result, in this case you would not want to use Sample Voltage as it is working against you.

Also keep in mind if you have what you think is the correct voltage and you are cutting to slow then the torch is removing more material than what the speed of the motors can keep up with, resulting in the torch diving into the plate as it is searching for material. This would be like using a fire hose to water a flower garden, reduce your amperage or change your speed to compensate. Material thickness, Amps and Speed govern Voltage, change any one point of the triangle will affect voltage, when the electrode wears this affects voltage as well.

 

In addition to distance, the height control may be disabled when the resultant tip velocity (vectorally corrected) of the torch is less than a configured percentage of cut velocity. Inversely it may be re-enabled when accelerating above the threshold.

 

IS there a way to measure accuracy of that lifter station? With the old TM 4 driver software, you could set your cut height, leave plasma off and hit "AUX" and then measure the physical cut height vs the programmed cut height with feeler gauges. On the program im runing now, the torch keeps hitting chunks of pierce slag and stopping. It doesn't do it on every part, but quite often. I think we've got the torch being out of square problem solved, had to shim the lifter station out with a washer.

Thanks!

 

You can put it into Dry Run Mode and then go to the Tool Library and Toggle Tool 1. This will perform a similar action as the AUX in the older software. Once the torch has gone down and touched off you can measure with a feeler gauge

 

My parts are getting cut off when I output the tool paths on a 5x10 blank now. I can't seem to find a way to adjust that green square to allow the entire path to be output

 

Go to Machine > Machine Defaults then press Setup, in the lower right corner defines your Machine area or the green box as above, make this bigger than your table, such as make the Width 130.

 

Okay, one last problem to work through.. I nested a project for a 5x10 sheet, got towards the end and i got an overtravel on Y axis detected, and i'm well away from the end of the table. I also noticed in the software, it showed part of the sheet being outside of the blue cutting area, which it was not. Software is configured for 60"x120" table.

 

It is clear that from where you set program zero you do not have enough room to travel before you hit the theoretical machine limits (nested sheet sitting outside the blue outline). Solution is redefine your machine limits, so the nested sheet sits inside the blue box or increase the size of your machine limits under Machine Settings.

 

So, to avoid hitting the theoretical limits, should I measure the overall length of the rails and gantry from stop to stop and use that measurement?

Thanks!!

 

Yes you could do that. Keep in mind the machine limits are a soft stop used to avoid crashing the torch into the hard stops or to keep the torch from cutting into the table supports.