Mach3 DTHC IV stops working at 75% completion

[BioGreg777]

Can anyone help me with a recent glitch? I have CandCNC Dragon cut, Ether Cut ESP II controller running their version of DTHC IV. The THC works through about 75% of the program cut and then the torch lifts too high for the remaining 25% of the cut. There are no instructions in Mach 3 other than the basic parameters.


BioGreg777
5' X 10' water table, Presion Plasma gantry/Hardware, CandCNC motors, controllers
Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52

[sphurley]

Not sure if you got this solved or not. If the DTHC IV is in auto and the green light is on, it has control of Z not Mach.
The only reason it would cause the torch to lift would be to raise the cutting voltage.
Do you have the material clamped to the plasma ground cable? Maybe as you cut of material you are increasing the resistance from the material to the plasma ground if you are relying on the slats for connection.

[Thor]

What DTHC delay do you have and what voltage setting, cutting what thickness metal at what amps with what plasma unit at what speed?

[tcaudle]

Thermal 52 has totally different settings based on material and cut amps. Cut height is typically .1 to .12 and voltage is 105 range for most material. The POST processor defines what tool settings you see in SheetCAM. Any setting in SheetCAM OVERRIDES the same setting in Manual mode.

The obvious first question is how does it cut with the DTHC in MANUAL mode and turned OFF? What happens to the torch volts as it cuts in manual
DTHCIV Setup and Config REV3.1 at page 22 has DTHCIV Specific tuning settings and tests. Page 100 has a step by step test to narrow down a problem.

[Brand X]

Cut height on the Thermal machines is .1400 for thinner stuff, and 1700-1800 for thicker metal. If you lower it it will not cut correctly, and your bevel will be quite bad..Consumable life will take a real beating. The A-120 manual will work for the cutmaster 52 (A-40) up to the 60 amp settings.. Exposed tip and low amps/thin metal then you can bring it down bit lower..(like 22 ga and 20-30 amp tips) I have been cutting for about 13 years, and the snap-loc hi freq before that one. Be sure to watch your arc volts.. Maybe your electrode needs replaced.. It will jump up in volts, and raise the torch with a bad one.

Follow the Manual here..

http://victortechnologies.com/IM_Upload ... 0-4989.pdf

[tcaudle]

If its set up right if the torch volts jumps up the DTHC will force it DOWN, If its raising UP its trying to Raise the torch volts. That is why doing a Manual test to see what the torch volts does with no DTHC is critical to narrowing it down.

[BTA Plasma]

One thing I have seen with Thermal Dynamics plasma cutters are customers not setting air pressure by the book. If you don't know how to set air pressure properly I highly suggest you check it out in your book. If it is set too high and you run low on air pressure your going to get a less effective plasma stream. Food for thought.