Of course this happens when tech support isn't available and I absolutely need the machine running.


My AVHC seems to have had a parameter changed somewhere which tells it to fire in the air. Instead of jogging down, touching the part, raising to the pierce height, and then firing, it is jogging up, hitting the stop, then firing in the air ~8" above the workpiece.

It will only do this every other time. If I stop the program after it fires in the air, it will jog down and pierce normally. Then at the next pierce position it will fire in the air again. If I stop the program and restart again, it pierces normally.

This is driving me nuts and I know it's something stupid. Any ideas? I need this machine to finish team Quadratec's pro-mod for next weekend's Werock event...


Thanks in advance...

Is the screw/slider system clean? When mine gets dirty, it'll provide enough resistance to trick the AVHC into thinking it's hit the plate... triggering the torch in the air. A quick cleaning usually does the trick. I also went to the setup screen on the AVHC and bumped the torque setting up a couple pounds (I think I went from 15 to 17). Hasn't done it for the past couple weeks.

Is the screw/slider system clean? When mine gets dirty, it'll provide enough resistance to trick the AVHC into thinking it's hit the plate... triggering the torch in the air. A quick cleaning usually does the trick. I also went to the setup screen on the AVHC and bumped the torque setting up a couple pounds (I think I went from 15 to 17). Hasn't done it for the past couple weeks.

Ditto... The fact that it works correctly sometimes....

Also check the torque on it, I had mine set too low, causing a similar reaction. Make sure it is 15.

Nope, that isn't the issue. I've had that problem in the past so i've made a habit of regularly cleaning it.

The torch literally just goes in the wrong direction and bottoms out on the stop. This tricks the AVHC into thinking it is touching the plate and then it fires in the air. Maybe I need to take video. It does what it's supposed to do, just in the wrong direction. Almost like the AVHC motor is getting reverse polarity every other pierce.

Nope, that isn't the issue. I've had that problem in the past so i've made a habit of regularly cleaning it.

The torch literally just goes in the wrong direction and bottoms out on the stop. This tricks the AVHC into thinking it is touching the plate and then it fires in the air. Maybe I need to take video. It does what it's supposed to do, just in the wrong direction. Almost like the AVHC motor is getting reverse polarity every other pierce.

Have you turned up the touch torque and had the same thing keep happen?

The symptoms you are describing point to binding. Worst case, turn it off, wire the plasma cutter direct to the electronics bypassing the avhc until tomorrow when tech is back in the office. That way you can run manually for the time being.

Check to see if your off delay is long enough, under Configuration, Programming and M-code Definitions for Plasma Off increase your off delay to 1.5 seconds. Also with the cut light off, press the Aux button on the driver software and Press the Plasma button to turn it on and off to see if the height control comes down and up every time if it does not then that would tell you the slides need to be cleaned on the lifter station.

Nope, that isn't the issue. I've had that problem in the past so i've made a habit of regularly cleaning it.

The torch literally just goes in the wrong direction and bottoms out on the stop. This tricks the AVHC into thinking it is touching the plate and then it fires in the air. Maybe I need to take video. It does what it's supposed to do, just in the wrong direction. Almost like the AVHC motor is getting reverse polarity every other pierce.

Sometimes this small upward motion is misinterpreted as the motor heading "backwords" to sense the material, when it is usually just retracting to the pierce height after instantly sensing enough resistance. If you set the Pierce height and Init cut height to 0, does it still bump up?

If it does, reprogram the motor through the "Factory Menu", which is accessible by powering down the unit, and holding the Down + OK button while powering it on. This may solve any programming issues.

Then the typicaly set touch torque needs to be above 18, and a smooth operating lifter station.

Let me know if you have any questions on it.

I have had the same issue, knew it was not from dirt. also bumped my tourque a couple of pounds still same issues. Finally found that it had a very slight bind issue. backed allen bolts off a 1/2 turn and its now gone.

I had the same problem for a while.... the tech keep getting stumped... with your unknowing help I have now fixed it. All I have to say is thanks guys.

I had the same problem with one of the motors for the gantry drive. The motor would change directions each time I attempted to jog the gantry, even if I continued to jog it in the same direction as the last attmept. I found that the ground wire, in the six barrel connector that plugs into the conversion box was not seated fully. Once I pushed the wire all the way in everything was fine.