Starting my 4x8 frame build, couple questions

[jeepsr4ever]

I will need you to send that old cable back to us. The other thing you can try it turning off "raise head on fault" setting in the cut profile. Your THC delay might not be long enough or it may be a PC issue.

[f_armer]

I'll send the cable.
"raise head on fault" is unchecked already. My THC delay is 1 sec. It seems that it is long enough delay, I can watch it do the pierce, and the height seems ok as it starts the cut, then starts to raise after it gets going. I'll try experimenting with the delay and see what happens.
Also, with THC off, the cuts are nice and smooth, but when I turn THC 'on' curves seem to get jittery. Not so much noticeable on straight cuts.
It makes me think the PC does have issues. Which doesn't make sense, as it is exactly what CandCNC recommends except that its not the right brand.
Not sure if I posted PC specs
IBM Netvista 8303
Pentium 4 2.66 Ghz
512 mb ram
fresh install windows xp sp2
optimized to candcnc recommendations, except they recommend turning off video card memory sharing, which I cannot, there is no setting in bios to turn it completely off.

[jeepsr4ever]

Raising means your either not traveling fast enough for the material/amperage or your tip volts are too high. (use book specs) Jittery means your THC rate is too high (try 15-18 for 14ga and thicker). THC on making only curves jittery tells me it is most likely a PC issue. Netvista might have been an early windows VISTA PC which is absolutely not compatable with Mach 3.

[f_armer]

Whats weird is,
If I set my voltage to 116 in mach, it drags the tip, most of the time, but sometimes raises it up till it loses arc.
If I set it to 117v, its about 50:50, sometimes drags, sometimes goes high.
If I set it to 118v, it usually gies up till it loses arc, but sometimes will drag.
Speed, and all other settings are by the book.
Tried changing thc rate, from 15% on up, in different increments, but doesn't seem to fix anything.
Have tried changing thc delay from .8 sec up to 1.5 sec. Still no change.
Do you think pc issue
I ordered yet another pc to try, its a dell gx620 3 ghz pentium 4 ht, 2 gb ram. Wont probably be here for a week or more.

[f_armer]

Netvista might have been an early windows VISTA PC which is absolutely not compatable with Mach 3.

It was a business lease return that came with xp pro. Vista was never an option.
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/deta...cID=MIGR-42671
Not saying its not the pc, but just seems odd that thc seems to require a specific brand of pc.

[jeepsr4ever]

Was it 64 bit or 32? Needs to be 32

[f_armer]

Was it 64 bit or 32? Needs to be 32

32bit

[jeepsr4ever]

Its just erratic! Does your tip volt reading form the plasma cutter vary quite a bit is it jumping 10-20 volts while cutting? Try cutting with no THC on it should still read tip volts.

[f_armer]

Yes it varies easy 20v while cutting with thc off, or on. Whats strange is that when vary the voltage 1v (117-118 ) in mach it changes from dragging to going really high.
Cuts fine with thc off though.

[jeepsr4ever]

Very strange indeed like there is a loose connection. On that Powermax 45 does the work clamp push in and twist into the power supply or is it integrated? (removable?) When I have see issues similar it was the work clamp not being pushed in all the way into the plasma cutter.