Today I came in to cut some metal in the Dynatorch after logging into Windows, I went to the Run As tool and clicked on the Plasma CNC icon. When the app opens up and I say yes to open it. I cannot find the controller (see screen shot below)
How do I get it to find the controller
Have you powered on the CNC. there should be a light on the cabinet on the side of the CNC. IIRC this is controlled by the estop on the cart. You may also need to power the plasma on.
Plasma is powered on and has a green light. Table fan is on. Windows PC connected. But no controller. Buy you were correct the EStop button was engaged. Thank you.
Sis this resolve it, or are you still not connecting?
Yes, after your advice I touched the E-Stop and the controller popped up on the list and I connected. Must have been a senior moment that I forgot to to check that. Unfortunately, I had an unsuccessly Dynatorch session.
I being my own brand name consumables and had a 1/4" mild steel plate 6" by 12" that I needed to cut three small brackets from. On the first try the torch errored out after making a few cuts and then cut off the path of my SheetCam file and stopped. So I after checking my SheetCam file to ensure it was set for 1/4" mild steel, I flipped my metal over, re-set X and Y, ensured that my path fit the piece and started the run again. This time after cutting one of three holes, the head contacted the piece of metal and it stuck to it, dragging it out of place and I had to stop the job rapidly. I then gave up for the day rather than waste another pricey piece of metal.
Did you set the material up in the dynatorch settings? ie the amperage range and speeds/feeds?
I definitely had 1/4" mild steel 45amp set on each of my cut paths. As for speeds and feeds, I think I just had whatever defaults SheetCam set.
I keep finding the speed percentage messed with. This seems to carry over from whatever the last person set. I ruined some 1/4" steel before I spotted it.
What should it be? How can I determine that based on material thickness. I ruined 16 gauge one time before too.
I start at 100%, but I last found it set at 200%. The result was “unsatisfactory.” When I reset it to 100% there result was pretty much perfect.
If you select the material in the Dynatorch setup, it is supposed to overwrite the Sheetcam values. However, I always watch the torch height like a hawk. Some people will turn on the limited retract(shouldn’t do that unless you know what you are doing), then leave it on. This can cause problems when parts tip & will cause a crash.
I’ve also seen cut speed at 200% from a previous user, thats going way too fast, symptom will be lots of sparks ejected vertically and it won’t cut all the way through the part.
Also if you forget to set the “cut chart” for the material and tip it defaults to high travel speed, lots of sparks, won’t cut all the way, just leaves a mess on your part.
If you enable torch height control and the cutting head crashes into the part I either turn torch control off or lower the I think arc voltage, its in upper right corner of the screen. Lowering the setpoint lifts the tip higher.
