Bulltear 4x4 Gantry Writeup

[Todd W]

That sucks at least someplace has it

[Jeep07]

That PCB interface for thermal dyn will give you divided tip volts which will not work. You need raw tip volts and the IO card from candcnc is designed to handle the high voltage and amps.. Essentially you tap into the large gauge wires leading to the torch (mine had 2 reds that I tapped into) Then use the ground clamp for the other side of the circuit. (I was hesitant to do this at first but finally realized I was getting Pilot arc volts using the ones in the manual...)

For OK to Move my TD101 didn't have that either so I used the AC transformer but I had to double loop it to get it to work right. It wasn't sensitive enough if I just passed one of the leads through it straight.

That cut quality will clean up a lot when you tune this. Also Big302 gave me a nice tip on improving cut quality. When in Sheetcam make sure you reverse the cut direction in the operation. It does help quite a bit.

I like that mach screen it looks a little different than mine.

[ROXROES]

Originally Posted by Jeep07

That cut quality will clean up a lot when you tune this. Also Big302 gave me a nice tip on improving cut quality. When in Sheetcam make sure you reverse the cut direction in the operation. It does help quite a bit.

I like that mach screen it looks a little different than mine.

I have raw tip volts and can get the torch to fire. I am going to order a transformer Monday.

Thanks for the tip on reversing the direction!

[Todd W]

Shoulda gotten a hypertherm lol

[ROXROES]

Originally Posted by Todd W

Shoulda gotten a hypertherm lol

If I had your kind of money I would have!

[Todd W]

Originally Posted by ROXROES

If I had your kind of money I would have!

if only I had that much money

Don't buy a house if you want to keep buying tools it seems there is no such thing as extra money haha...

Getting my place ready for winter is taking all my fun, tool, etc... money Barely gonna have enough to finish the rif for a trip in October I`m hoping

[tuf045]

any updates? the reason i ask is that i have shelled out for a 4x8 but it coming to OZ.
just wondering if theres any pitfalls that i can avoid?

[ROXROES]

What kind of plasma you running? Waiting on the AC transformer is the only thing holding me up. If you get the electronics ahead of time, practice running sheetcam and mach3 generating g code so your ready to rock n roll...

[tuf045]

thermal dynamics cutmaster 40mm (not purchased yet though) thats what its called this side of the earth

[xr8ed]

tuf045 get a hypertherm, the machine torch, and machine interface cable. That should eliminate the problem ROXROES is currently facing, and put you ahead some. The only drawback, more $$.

I don't care personally for the hand torch, but you can use it if you don't have, or don't want to shell out the $$. I have a handtorch for mine so i can unplug from the plasma table, and use it around the shop. But strictly use a machine torch on the table.

I never had this problem with the hypertherm, but i also remembered to order the interface cable and wire the raw arc voltage output.

[xr8ed]

didn't see your post so soon, if you have a thermal dynamics already, or are planning on one, not sure what you'll need but likely there is some kind of machine interface cable to control the plasma from the computer. Or some other piggyback parts required to be controlled by the computer. Maybe try giving (dare i say in this thread) Torchmate a call and asking them what is needed to run thermal dynamics by a computer, they are Thermal Dynamics dealer, and know their stuff really well, they have been helpful everytime i call.

[ROXROES]

This is all I need to get mine running and its ordered, just wire a 30 ohm resister across the outputs and hook it to the torch height control board for the "okay to move" signal...40:1 Current Transformer

Or you can spend $175 for the PCB interface from a Thermal Dynamics dealer.

What you need to hook to the plasma:
Raw tip volts - easy
Workpiece (ground) - easy
Torch control - easy
"okay to move" - not so bad once you figure out what you need

[Ben W]

Originally Posted by ROXROES

But today my Longevity 60A IGBT Continuous Pilot Arc unit came in, so I will get another torch height control board and wire that up.

Is there a machine torch that fits the Longevity or are you sticking with a hand torch?

[ROXROES]

Originally Posted by Ben W

Is there a machine torch that fits the Longevity or are you sticking with a hand torch?

Hand torch, I'd call A2Z and ask them about machine torch availability.

I actually received it yesterday, not Friday (tracking # confusion). Nicest construction I've seen for one of these units. And a big ass fan to keep the sucker cool.

[SpineTx]

what's on that screen

[ROXROES]

Originally Posted by SpineTx

what's on that screen

Twins! Screensaver is better, its all topless pics.

Sitting on my arse waiting for UPS to get here with the current transformer...

[Pook]

Keeping an eye on this thread, Really interested in the Gantry kit.

[ROXROES]

Its firing, moving and cutting. Thanks Wesley (Jeep07) for the phone call and help!

Gonna work on fine tuning this thing tomorrow night.

[ROXROES]

Alright guys, long story short. I forgot to add a earth ground to my table, and have water in my lines. It is going and here are some pics of a piece cut out with the kerf width not dialed in, travel speed not dialed in (draft on cut and dings on starts) and without a water separator (cut wavering).

[Todd W]

Not bad

Now you need to get the Harbor Freight Compressed Air Dryer !!

[xr8ed]

Nice, your in business now. If you don't get the HF dryer atleast get a motogaurd filter.

[Jeep07]

Keep tuning man it will get better.

[Torchhead]

I think I read in an earlier post you connected to the RED wires for Arc Volts (tip volts). Be aware the that MAY be pilot arc (it is on smaller Hypertherms and TD's) the ELECTRODE wires are usually the white ones. The pilot arc will give you voltage, but it does not vary with Arc Gap. It will basically make the THC non-functional. It won't hurt anything, It just doesn't work.

To make sure you are connected to the right wires use a DVM and check the voltage when you fire the torch in the air. Another way is to download the operators manual (service manual for Hypertherm) and look at the block schematic. It will have the wire color for the electrode. It's the center object in the torch. The pilot arc wire (if you have one) will be shown.

If you need help drop me a line with the plasma model # and I'll try and look it up.

TOM Caudle
www.CandCNC.com

[ROXROES]

Originally Posted by Torchhead

I think I read in an earlier post you connected to the RED wires for Arc Volts (tip volts). Be aware the that MAY be pilot arc (it is on smaller Hypertherms and TD's) the ELECTRODE wires are usually the white ones. The pilot arc will give you voltage, but it does not vary with Arc Gap. It will basically make the THC non-functional. It won't hurt anything, It just doesn't work.

To make sure you are connected to the right wires use a DVM and check the voltage when you fire the torch in the air. Another way is to download the operators manual (service manual for Hypertherm) and look at the block schematic. It will have the wire color for the electrode. It's the center object in the torch. The pilot arc wire (if you have one) will be shown.

If you need help drop me a line with the plasma model # and I'll try and look it up.

TOM Caudle
www.CandCNC.com

Tom,
I swapped that wire from the Red (tip1) wire over to a black (electrode1) wire, you can see the red wire to the upper right. I noticed my volts weren't reading right on mach. Now you can see the volts moving and the torch height control functions accordingly.

This is a TD Cutmaster 52:

[tuf045]

this thing is looking great, got any more updates?