Pierce delay and pierce height not consistent

[@metalman23]

I have a premier plasma 4x4, with a hypertherm 45xp

I notice when I have a lot of piercing to do, whenever the torch lowers and senses the material height, it backs off to the correct pierce height, and pierces quite well, but the times when the torch doesn't sense the material height, it seems like the pierce delay is non existent, and also it won't set the right pierce height, sometimes it even rubs on the metal until the THC corrects the height, I wouldn't know where to start looking for a problem like this, I'm guessing it's in the sheetcam settings that cam with the table?
Any advice would be helpful

Maybe I'll try to run it without the THC and see how it does.

[@metalman23]

So I turned off the THC and that fixed the pierce height issue, but I'm still having the inconsistent pierce delay problem

[@metalman23]

So I tried cutting a series of 1/2" slots, and only the first slot had a pierce delay, all the others didn't, I don't know what part of the programming to look for this in order to fix it.

[acourtjester]

First off the pierce height in not part of the THC, the THC only comes into play after the torch starts to move after the pierce. There is a separate delay that is part of the THC so it has enough time to stabilize the arc voltage after the pierce and torch moving to cut.
How are you determining where the surface of the metal is (floating head or Ohmic sensor)? The controller must know where the correct metal surface is to then set the correct pierce height. The pierce height is set in the Tool section in SheetCam to be written into the G-code, see attached screen shot. You also need to have a delay for the pierce to actually complete, and not move before that time completes.
Your problem may be how you find the metal surface.

pierce height 10.JPG (52.66 KiB) Viewed 3171 times

[@metalman23]

First off the pierce height in not part of the THC, the THC only comes into play after the torch starts to move after the pierce. There is a separate delay that is part of the THC so it has enough time to stabilize the arc voltage after the pierce and torch moving to cut.
How are you determining where the surface of the metal is (floating head or Ohmic sensor)? The controller must know where the correct metal surface is to then set the correct pierce height. The pierce height is set in the Tool section in SheetCam to be written into the G-code, see attached screen shot. You also need to have a delay for the pierce to actually complete, and not move before that time completes.
Your problem may be how you find the metal surface.
pierce height 10.JPG

Thanks for the reply,

I have a floating head, I've calibrated that and it seems to be accurate,

Here's a shot of my setting for my 16ga tool, the delay is set for .15 seconds, but after the initial cut, no pierce delay is used and it makes a messy start to the cut.

[@metalman23]

Right now I have the THC off and I'm just trying to figure out the pierce delay issue first.

[kn612]

Are you using mach3? In general configuration page your pierce delay (G04) could be selected for milliseconds. Post up your sheetcam gcode

[acourtjester]

With the pierce delay you just want to complete the pierce, to long and you will have a larger hole in the metal at that point. It may be OK with a lead in but cutting lines you just want the kerf width only.

[@metalman23]

Are you using mach3? In general configuration page your pierce delay (G04) could be selected for milliseconds. Post up your sheetcam gcode

I am using Mach 3, so I can attach the .tap file? Or hOw do I post the gcode?

Thanks

[@metalman23]

The customer service guy is telling me to change the spindle setup in Mach 3, this seems odd to me, as I feel like it should be written in the code from sheetcam,

My pierce delay as set in sheetcam only affects the first cut, not subsequent cuts.


I'm dealing with so many issues at once with this machine it's hard to do anything

I'm trying to figure out the pierce delay, also the THC is a piece of junk, it behaves completely differently on 2 separate parts, both made with the same 16ga tool in sheetcam

[@metalman23]

How can I post the gcode?

[@metalman23]

Code: Select all

N0010 (Filename: slot test file v1.2  .5s delay.tap)
N0020 (Post processor: PREMIER PLASMA post processor SHEETCAM 2021.scpost)
N0030 (Date: 11/11/2023)
N0040 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0050 G53 G90 G40
N0060 F1
N0070 S500
N0080 (Part: slot test file v1.2)
N0090 (Process: Outside Offset, 0, T3: 16g 40 amps)
N0100 M06 T3  (16g 40 amps)
N0110 G00 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.3937
N0120 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0130 G92 Z-0.17
N0140 G00 Z0.0800
N0150 M03
N0160 G04 P0.5
N0170 G01 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.0400 F50
N0180 F160
N0190 Y0.8756
N0200 M05
N0210 G00 Z0.3937
N0220 X0.3650 Y0.6256
N0230 Z0.0800
N0240 M03
N0250 G04 P0.5
N0260 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0270 F160
N0280 Y0.8756
N0290 M05
N0300 G00 Z0.3937
N0310 X0.0000 Y0.6256
N0320 Z0.0800
N0330 M03
N0340 G04 P0.5
N0350 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0360 F160
N0370 Y0.8756
N0380 M05
N0390 G00 Z0.3937
N0400 X0.7979 Y0.6256
N0410 Z0.0800
N0420 M03
N0430 G04 P0.5
N0440 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0450 F160
N0460 Y0.8756
N0470 M05
N0480 G00 Z0.3937
N0490 X1.0565 Y0.6256
N0500 Z0.0800
N0510 M03
N0520 G04 P0.5
N0530 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0540 F160
N0550 Y0.8756
N0560 M05
N0570 G00 Z0.3937
N0580 X1.0438 Y0.0000
N0590 Z0.0800
N0600 M03
N0610 G04 P0.5
N0620 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0630 F160
N0640 Y0.2500
N0650 M05
N0660 G00 Z0.3937
N0670 X0.7852 Y0.0000
N0680 Z0.0800
N0690 M03
N0700 G04 P0.5
N0710 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0720 F160
N0730 Y0.2500
N0740 M05
N0750 G00 Z0.3937
N0760 X0.5609 Y0.0000
N0770 Z0.0800
N0780 M03
N0790 G04 P0.5
N0800 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0810 F160
N0820 Y0.2500
N0830 M05
N0840 G00 Z0.3937
N0850 X0.3523 Y0.0000
N0860 Z0.0800
N0870 M03
N0880 G04 P0.5
N0890 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0900 F160
N0910 Y0.2500
N0920 M05
N0930 G00 Z0.3937
N0940 X0.0000 Y0.0042
N0950 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0960 G92 Z-0.17
N0970 G00 Z0.0800
N0980 M03
N0990 G04 P0.5
N1000 G01 X0.0000 Y0.0042 Z0.0400 F50
N1010 F160
N1020 Y0.2542
N1030 M05
N1040 G00 Z0.3937
N1050 M05 M30

heres the code for my test file with a .5s delay

I think i figured something out

when i changed the pierce delay to 1s or greater, it would cut all the slots the same, but when i went down below .8s with the delay, it would run into this issue with the initial cut starting fine, and all the next cuts with not enough pierce delay


soooo I think it has something to do with the delay built into the hypertherm 45xp when it finishes cutting and tries to start another cut while the postflow is still happening, there is a cleaerly noticeable .5(or greater) delay before it starts cutting again, I'm wondering if this could be the issue that's causing all cuts but the first one to have pierce delay issues


is there a way to change or avoid that setting on the powermax? or do i have to manually change all the pierce delays by editing the gcode?

[kn612]

Code: Select all

N0010 (Filename: slot test file v1.2  .5s delay.tap)
N0020 (Post processor: PREMIER PLASMA post processor SHEETCAM 2021.scpost)
N0030 (Date: 11/11/2023)
N0040 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0050 G53 G90 G40
N0060 F1
N0070 S500
N0080 (Part: slot test file v1.2)
N0090 (Process: Outside Offset, 0, T3: 16g 40 amps)
N0100 M06 T3  (16g 40 amps)
N0110 G00 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.3937
N0120 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0130 G92 Z-0.17
N0140 G00 Z0.0800
N0150 M03
N0160 G04 P0.5
N0170 G01 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.0400 F50
N0180 F160
N0190 Y0.8756
N0200 M05
N0210 G00 Z0.3937
N0220 X0.3650 Y0.6256
N0230 Z0.0800
N0240 M03
N0250 G04 P0.5
N0260 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0270 F160
N0280 Y0.8756
N0290 M05
N0300 G00 Z0.3937
N0310 X0.0000 Y0.6256
N0320 Z0.0800
N0330 M03
N0340 G04 P0.5
N0350 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0360 F160
N0370 Y0.8756
N0380 M05
N0390 G00 Z0.3937
N0400 X0.7979 Y0.6256
N0410 Z0.0800
N0420 M03
N0430 G04 P0.5
N0440 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0450 F160
N0460 Y0.8756
N0470 M05
N0480 G00 Z0.3937
N0490 X1.0565 Y0.6256
N0500 Z0.0800
N0510 M03
N0520 G04 P0.5
N0530 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0540 F160
N0550 Y0.8756
N0560 M05
N0570 G00 Z0.3937
N0580 X1.0438 Y0.0000
N0590 Z0.0800
N0600 M03
N0610 G04 P0.5
N0620 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0630 F160
N0640 Y0.2500
N0650 M05
N0660 G00 Z0.3937
N0670 X0.7852 Y0.0000
N0680 Z0.0800
N0690 M03
N0700 G04 P0.5
N0710 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0720 F160
N0730 Y0.2500
N0740 M05
N0750 G00 Z0.3937
N0760 X0.5609 Y0.0000
N0770 Z0.0800
N0780 M03
N0790 G04 P0.5
N0800 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0810 F160
N0820 Y0.2500
N0830 M05
N0840 G00 Z0.3937
N0850 X0.3523 Y0.0000
N0860 Z0.0800
N0870 M03
N0880 G04 P0.5
N0890 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0900 F160
N0910 Y0.2500
N0920 M05
N0930 G00 Z0.3937
N0940 X0.0000 Y0.0042
N0950 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0960 G92 Z-0.17
N0970 G00 Z0.0800
N0980 M03
N0990 G04 P0.5
N1000 G01 X0.0000 Y0.0042 Z0.0400 F50
N1010 F160
N1020 Y0.2542
N1030 M05
N1040 G00 Z0.3937
N1050 M05 M30

heres the code for my test file with a .5s delay

I think i figured something out

when i changed the pierce delay to 1s or greater, it would cut all the slots the same, but when i went down below .8s with the delay, it would run into this issue with the initial cut starting fine, and all the next cuts with not enough pierce delay


soooo I think it has something to do with the delay built into the hypertherm 45xp when it finishes cutting and tries to start another cut while the postflow is still happening, there is a cleaerly noticeable .5(or greater) delay before it starts cutting again, I'm wondering if this could be the issue that's causing all cuts but the first one to have pierce delay issues


is there a way to change or avoid that setting on the powermax? or do i have to manually change all the pierce delays by editing the gcode?

That's a good question. I have the same issue when I try to only do peck marks for drilling with a powermax 65. The post flow is still going on the next peck and it won't fire the torch. Very similar to your issue.

I would think a pause in the motion part of the code would need to be added between your pierces. I'm not smart enough to figure out how to add that automatically.

Since your part looks like the pierces are so close together is perhaps why you are having issues after the initial piece. You could slow your rapid speed down or manually change the start order of the pierces in sheetcam to make them farther apart.

[@metalman23]

ok here is the code i used:

Code: Select all

N0010 (Filename: slot test file v1.2 .8s delay.tap)
N0020 (Post processor: PREMIER PLASMA post processor SHEETCAM 2021.scpost)
N0030 (Date: 11/11/2023)
N0040 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0050 G53 G90 G40
N0060 F1
N0070 S500
N0080 (Part: slot test file v1.2)
N0090 (Process: Outside Offset, 0, T3: 16g 40 amps)
N0100 M06 T3  (16g 40 amps)
N0110 G00 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.3937
N0120 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0130 G92 Z-0.17
N0140 G00 Z0.0800
N0150 M03
N0160 G04 P0.1
N0170 G01 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.0400 F50
N0180 F160
N0190 Y0.8756
N0200 M05
N0210 G00 Z0.3937
N0220 X0.3650 Y0.6256
N0230 Z0.0800
N0240 M03
N0250 G04 P0.99
N0260 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0270 F160
N0280 Y0.8756
N0290 M05
N0300 G00 Z0.3937
N0310 X0.0000 Y0.6256
N0320 Z0.0800
N0330 M03
N0340 G04 P0.99
N0350 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0360 F160
N0370 Y0.8756
N0380 M05
N0390 G00 Z0.3937
N0400 X0.7979 Y0.6256
N0410 Z0.0800
N0420 M03
N0430 G04 P0.99
N0440 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0450 F160
N0460 Y0.8756
N0470 M05
N0480 G00 Z0.3937
N0490 X1.0565 Y0.6256
N0500 Z0.0800
N0510 M03
N0520 G04 P0.9
N0530 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0540 F160
N0550 Y0.8756
N0560 M05
N0570 G00 Z0.3937
N0580 X1.0438 Y0.0000
N0590 Z0.0800
N0600 M03
N0610 G04 P0.8
N0620 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0630 F160
N0640 Y0.2500
N0650 M05
N0660 G00 Z0.3937
N0670 X0.7852 Y0.0000
N0680 Z0.0800
N0690 M03
N0700 G04 P0.8
N0710 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0720 F160
N0730 Y0.2500
N0740 M05
N0750 G00 Z0.3937
N0760 X0.5609 Y0.0000
N0770 Z0.0800
N0780 M03
N0790 G04 P0.8
N0800 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0810 F160
N0820 Y0.2500
N0830 M05
N0840 G00 Z0.3937
N0850 X0.3523 Y0.0000
N0860 Z0.0800
N0870 M03
N0880 G04 P0.8
N0890 G01 Z0.0400 F50
N0900 F160
N0910 Y0.2500
N0920 M05
N0930 G00 Z0.3937
N0940 X0.0000 Y0.0042
N0950 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0960 G92 Z-0.17
N0970 G00 Z0.0800
N0980 M03
N0990 G04 P0.8
N1000 G01 X0.0000 Y0.0042 Z0.0400 F50
N1010 F160
N1020 Y0.2542
N1030 M05
N1040 G00 Z0.3937
N1050 M05 M30

and this is the result :
you can clearly see the first cut is fine, but all the subsequent cuts are bad i changed the first pierce to a .1s delay and the next few were .99

and here is basically the same file, but with the pierce delays set to 1s

Code: Select all

N0010 (Filename: slot test file v1.2 1s delay.tap)
N0020 (Post processor: PREMIER PLASMA post processor SHEETCAM 2021.scpost)
N0030 (Date: 11/11/2023)
N0040 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0050 G53 G90 G40
N0060 F1
N0070 S500
N0080 (Part: slot test file v1.2)
N0090 (Process: Outside Offset, 0, T3: 16g 40 amps)
N0100 M06 T3  (16g 40 amps)
N0110 G00 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.3937
N0120 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0130 G92 Z-0.17
N0140 G00 Z0.0800
N0150 M03
N0160 G04 P0.1
N0170 G01 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.0591 F50
N0180 F160
N0190 Y0.8756
N0200 M05
N0210 G00 Z0.3937
N0220 X0.3650 Y0.6256
N0230 Z0.0800
N0240 M03
N0250 G04 P1
N0260 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0270 F160
N0280 Y0.8756
N0290 M05
N0300 G00 Z0.3937
N0310 X0.0000 Y0.6256
N0320 Z0.0800
N0330 M03
N0340 G04 P1
N0350 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0360 F160
N0370 Y0.8756
N0380 M05
N0390 G00 Z0.3937
N0400 X0.7979 Y0.6256
N0410 Z0.0800
N0420 M03
N0430 G04 P1
N0440 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0450 F160
N0460 Y0.8756
N0470 M05
N0480 G00 Z0.3937
N0490 X1.0565 Y0.6256
N0500 Z0.0800
N0510 M03
N0520 G04 P1
N0530 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0540 F160
N0550 Y0.8756
N0560 M05
N0570 G00 Z0.3937
N0580 X1.0438 Y0.0000
N0590 Z0.0800
N0600 M03
N0610 G04 P1
N0620 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0630 F160
N0640 Y0.2500
N0650 M05
N0660 G00 Z0.3937
N0670 X0.7852 Y0.0000
N0680 Z0.0800
N0690 M03
N0700 G04 P1
N0710 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0720 F160
N0730 Y0.2500
N0740 M05
N0750 G00 Z0.3937
N0760 X0.5609 Y0.0000
N0770 Z0.0800
N0780 M03
N0790 G04 P1
N0800 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0810 F160
N0820 Y0.2500
N0830 M05
N0840 G00 Z0.3937
N0850 X0.3523 Y0.0000
N0860 Z0.0800
N0870 M03
N0880 G04 P1
N0890 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0900 F160
N0910 Y0.2500
N0920 M05
N0930 G00 Z0.3937
N0940 X0.0000 Y0.0042
N0950 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0960 G92 Z-0.17
N0970 G00 Z0.0800
N0980 M03
N0990 G04 P1
N1000 G01 X0.0000 Y0.0042 Z0.0591 F50
N1010 F160
N1020 Y0.2542
N1030 M05
N1040 G00 Z0.3937
N1050 M05 M30

and the difference is night and day, there's no way there's that much of a diference between delays of .99s and 1s

[@metalman23]

ok so for the heck of it, i changed the delays to alternate between a 1second delay and a .99 second delay here's the code,

Code: Select all

N0010 (Filename: slot test file v1.2 1s delay.tap)
N0020 (Post processor: PREMIER PLASMA post processor SHEETCAM 2021.scpost)
N0030 (Date: 11/11/2023)
N0040 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0050 G53 G90 G40
N0060 F1
N0070 S500
N0080 (Part: slot test file v1.2)
N0090 (Process: Outside Offset, 0, T3: 16g 40 amps)
N0100 M06 T3  (16g 40 amps)
N0110 G00 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.3937
N0120 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0130 G92 Z-0.17
N0140 G00 Z0.0800
N0150 M03
N0160 G04 P0
N0170 G01 X0.5736 Y0.6256 Z0.0591 F50
N0180 F160
N0190 Y0.8756
N0200 M05
N0210 G00 Z0.3937
N0220 X0.3650 Y0.6256
N0230 Z0.0800
N0240 M03
N0250 G04 P1
N0260 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0270 F160
N0280 Y0.8756
N0290 M05
N0300 G00 Z0.3937
N0310 X0.0000 Y0.6256
N0320 Z0.0800
N0330 M03
N0340 G04 P0.99
N0350 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0360 F160
N0370 Y0.8756
N0380 M05
N0390 G00 Z0.3937
N0400 X0.7979 Y0.6256
N0410 Z0.0800
N0420 M03
N0430 G04 P1
N0440 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0450 F160
N0460 Y0.8756
N0470 M05
N0480 G00 Z0.3937
N0490 X1.0565 Y0.6256
N0500 Z0.0800
N0510 M03
N0520 G04 P0.99
N0530 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0540 F160
N0550 Y0.8756
N0560 M05
N0570 G00 Z0.3937
N0580 X1.0438 Y0.0000
N0590 Z0.0800
N0600 M03
N0610 G04 P1
N0620 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0630 F160
N0640 Y0.2500
N0650 M05
N0660 G00 Z0.3937
N0670 X0.7852 Y0.0000
N0680 Z0.0800
N0690 M03
N0700 G04 P0.99
N0710 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0720 F160
N0730 Y0.2500
N0740 M05
N0750 G00 Z0.3937
N0760 X0.5609 Y0.0000
N0770 Z0.0800
N0780 M03
N0790 G04 P1
N0800 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0810 F160
N0820 Y0.2500
N0830 M05
N0840 G00 Z0.3937
N0850 X0.3523 Y0.0000
N0860 Z0.0800
N0870 M03
N0880 G04 P0.99
N0890 G01 Z0.0591 F50
N0900 F160
N0910 Y0.2500
N0920 M05
N0930 G00 Z0.3937
N0940 X0.0000 Y0.0042
N0950 G31 Z -100 F19.685
N0960 G92 Z-0.17
N0970 G00 Z0.0800
N0980 M03
N0990 G04 P1
N1000 G01 X0.0000 Y0.0042 Z0.0591 F50
N1010 F160
N1020 Y0.2542
N1030 M05
N1040 G00 Z0.3937
N1050 M05 M30

and the result:

something is going on and I'm not sure what.

ther'es no way a .01 second longer makes that much of a difference

[acourtjester]

You may be having a problem with how the software handles the code. Not related but remember when the year 2000 happened, the software was not written to handle that number. If you found the a pierce delay of 1.0 second works then use it.
There is a reason for all the different post processors, they are to handle the different controller electronics and their software that are being used. Software has a look ahead function so the computer does not do one instruction at a time, this is how they have increased the speed of their operations.

[@metalman23]

You may be having a problem with how the software handles the code. Not related but remember when the year 2000 happened, the software was not written to handle that number. If you found the a pierce delay of 1.0 second works then use it.
There is a reason for all the different post processors, they are to handle the different controller electronics and their software that are being used. Software has a look ahead function so the computer does not do one instruction at a time, this is how they have increased the speed of their operations.

I guess it really bugs me that I can't fine tune the pierce delay, 1 second is too long for 16ga, but it's either 1 second, or nothing apparently

[acourtjester]

Well I do a dimpling operation for center punching hole locations (drill later) and I use zero pierce delay. In my SheetCam tool listing I have many cut setups with less then 1 second pierce delays. Have you tried a different post processor??

[@metalman23]

Well I do a dimpling operation for center punching hole locations (drill later) and I use zero pierce delay. In my SheetCam tool listing I have many cut setups with less then 1 second pierce delays. Have you tried a different post processor??

I have not tried that, I can try that tomorrow, which one should use? , is there a generic plasma cutter post processor in sheetcam?

Can this be programing it to start the pierce delay from the time the trigger signal is sent? Or is it timing the delay from when the arc is initiated?

[acourtjester]

Most are triggered by the Arc OK signal. Many of the post processors in SheetCam and very similar and have additional lines of code for different tables to use if needed. You can check by looking at the G-code from different post processors, things like tool info may or may not be in the code as an example. The actual moving of the axis will be the same.

[TJS]

Does Premier Plasma use CommandCNC from CandCNC.
I am not sure why you have no lead in. I know your slots are small but I try to put a little bit of lead in this helps reduce the lava volcanoes. I only get lava volcanoes with thicker material.
How wide are your slots.
Also, it looks like you are starting your cut at the end of the slot. Start it in the middle area with a very small ARC lead in. Sheetcam allows you to do this. If your lead in is too big it will tell you. You must be on the operation in sheetcam and the ICONs on the to show a "S" I think (sorry not at my table) that denotes start point. Click on it and then go to each slot and you can move the start points with just a mouse click. Not saying this is your issue but I never start my cuts in a curve if I can avoid it.

[weldguy]

A cheater solution to the pierce delay issue would be to increase the pierce delay to the point where it delays long enough for all your cuts. This may cause it to pierce a little too long on the 1st pierce, but it sounds like the delay issue is only during post flow so it will at least do all your consecutive cuts correctly and you can get your piece done.

[acourtjester]

A little different angle on this, what THC are you using?? If the arc ok signal is going through the THC it may effect the pierce delay.

[@metalman23]

A little different angle on this, what THC are you using?? If the arc ok signal is going through the THC it may effect the pierce delay.

Proma THC

[@metalman23]

The lats few tests, I've been turning the THC off, just to eliminate that variable, so it shouldn't be causing any issues