cnc_plasma_cutter
First note - The CNC Plasma Cutter is not ours - it's Ingenuity's and the compressor is John K's. DON'T MESS WITH IT WITHOUT PERMISSION. This Documentation is for reference purposes/convenient to follow documentation.
Checklist for usage (DRAFT: NOT TOTALLY CONFIRMED)
- Design your file in CAD/Inkscape/take your pick.
- CAM up SVG or similar file in SheetCAM or the like.
- Figure out feeds/speeds for your material
- Save to a USB flash drive.
- Power on stuff
- Machine & computer
- Compressor (check dryer & valve as well), Make sure it's at decent pressure, and check continually during a sizeable job
- Plasma Cutter - set Amps appropriately for material
- Situate material on plasma table. Make sure it won't get launched if the probe hits an edge, etc.
- Copy files from USB to NGC files directory on Desktop
- Run LinuxCNC/AXIS/whatever you wanna call it
- Check Physical E-Stop/Virtual E-Stop/Machine Power.
- Home axes - Home button
- Drive to fairly close to material origin (arrow keys/page up & page down for Z)
- Touch off to X/Y origin (hint: touch off Y first, then X. Saves you a click)
- Pro-tip: clean up LinuxCNC screen mess with Ctrl-K.
- Dry Run - Leave Plasma disabled (default) and run the program. Should drive around at safe height and make the moves it would do normally.
- Satisfied with the dry run? Enable the plasma and go for it.
- When finished, drive back close to (but not all the way) home. Make sure a scrap piece is under the business end of the plasma cutter (when the machine is de-energized the business end drops).
- Shut down computer before powering down.
cnc_plasma_cutter.txt · Last modified: 2021/09/01 04:07 by sdh7