New build, masso or Proma controller?

[JTknives]

I am currently building a plasma table and I had a few questions about controllers if someone had a few min. I got all caught up in the hype of the masso controller when I ordered all my parts. But now I’m kinda second guessing my purchase. I have an amazon return pending for it Incase I need to return it.

My problem is I’m going to be cutting knife blade blanks almost exclusively with the table. We currently are a company that does heat treating for custom knife makers. And we are wanting to add plasma cutting to our service. That being said I need to be able to trust my controller as a sheet of knife steel can be between $600-$1,000 (11”x24”). But I also need simple because I won’t have time to spend an hr to setup and program a single knife blank.

All this considered I need a THC on my table. So I was looking at the Proma and then noticed thy make a complete plasma controller. I have been playing with the software and it seams simple enough. All my customers would have to do is send me the DXF file and I load it straight into the controller.

Does anyone have any advice as to which way I should go or if I should go a completely different direction? Thanks guys
Jarod Todd
JT Custom Knives

[islander261]

Ok

If this is a going commercial operation why are you trusting your time and profits to a home built table? Why not contract out water jet cutting? No change in material properties from the cut but expensive.

You are set on building your own so this is what I would do for commercial use. Buy an Hypertherm or Thermal Dynamics (ESAB) plasma power supply big enough so it will run at 100% duty cycle on the thickest material you ever imagine you will cut at your shops hottest summertime temperature . Now for the controls in order desirability:

1. Hypertherm but big $, they supply industrial grade equipment and service. They may not sell to home made mechanics;
2. Flashcut or one of the re branded versions of it, this is by far your best bet if your time is worth anything;
3. CandCNC CommandCNC;
4. LinuxCNC.

You may also need CAM software depending on the control you select.

John

[robertspark]

my 2 pence.... Proma do not make a very responsive THC.... I'd hate to think of the responsiveness of their all in one cnc plasma controller.

The THC runs on rs485.... not the fastest protocol to control the z-axis in my opinion.
USB + plasma has never been good for me as a controller <> PC link.

http://proma-elektronika.com/index.php/ ... -system-en

sure they have sold volume on the THC front, most people fall into the trap of using them first before trying another way.

Masso looks interesting

https://masso.com.au/

not used one though

M666 and M667 do not appear to be in sync with motion, only M62+M63 are listed as in sync with motion.
https://masso.com.au/masso-documentatio ... -g-m-codes
_____________________________________________________________

Although I'm biased.....
UCCNC + AXBB controller (with free UCCNC software)
https://cncdrive.com/AXBB.html
http://www.shop.cncdrive.com/index.php?productID=965
https://cncdrive.com/UCCNC.html
+ THC {depends on how much you want to spend!} (miniTHC / neuron lite / neuron simplicity)
+ sheetcam

UCCNC has M10/M11, M10.1 to M10.10/M11.1 to M11.10, M205/M206, M207/M208, M209/M210, M211, M212 all in sync with motion (i.e. there are a lot of I/O's and functions that you can control for THC without any slowdown in motion as these M-codes are executed).

[JTknives]

The gole is to cut the profiles in house and water jet is way over kill for what is needed. The customers are going to be finish grinding the blades and cleaning up the profiles. We are not a full time commercial shop. I have been a custom knife maker for a very long time and the shop has kinda grown and adapted over the years. I started offering the heat treating service a few years ago and it has become quite a busy venture. So at this point in time it’s a business on the side as I have a full time job as a machinist. So that would be why I’m building a table. I have built almost all my equipment in my shop and nothing has failed me yet and it’s somthing I love to do.

I currently have a hypertherm plasma cutter and plan on using it on the table. It’s a 30XP which I know is not recommended for cnc but it’s what I have currently. I am upgrading next year to a 45xp with a machine torch. I would say max thickness is 1/4” and that would be rare. Most are in the 1/8” and some in the .060-.090” thick range.

So with that all said I just need somthing simple. It’s a budget build of sorts so I can’t justify thousands of dollars for just software.

Thanks guys - JT

[SegoMan DeSigns]

JT,

I too have been following the Masso controller, the owner Jatinder is on top of things and addresses his customers needs. The option to add axis's as needed is nice also.Go check out the forums on the Masso site.

The Proma 150 is hit and miss on reviews I will use the Price AVHC10 THC on my 6 x 12 build (you can buy them on Ebay or buy direct) Y/T vids can be found on it also:

https://www.pricecnc.com/

I recommend you order the 45 with a Duramax torch upgrade as you can use fine cut consumables with it, cleaner cuts = less grinding. Not sure of your local business environment but a 65 might open doors to some outside cutting jobs as well. I intend to run the 105 as I'm in an industrial area. My shop is not 480 / 3 ph or it would have been the 125.

After running my 2x2 for 3 years I recommend at least a 4x4 ft bed if not a full 4x8 to save a lot of time processing materials prior to putting them on your table. Go to Y/T and search for Clearpath SDSK Servos they like Masso have a lot to offer in a small package.

Back to painting parts on my build..

[acourtjester]

JT as DIY guy you like me are happy with the quality of the tools we make and a DIY table will do as you want.
I have used 3 different brands of THC and as Sego I am using a Price at this time and I am happy with it. It is about the same price as a Proma but better quality and easy to install and use. It has a 30 plans storage on the unit so changing metals or thickness is very simple, just change plans from the storage location.
Here is a video about the Price unit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyZJVMt ... e=youtu.be

[JTknives]

where is everyone getting the PriceCNC AVHC10?

[acourtjester]

here you go
https://www.pricecnc.com/

[JTknives]

Thy are out of stock on there website. I noticed a seller with the same name on eBay. Are thy the same company ?

[acourtjester]

Yes as I bought mine from eBay I know other have bought from the website too.

[JDR Metal Art]

I've run the Proma SD http://proma-elektronika.com/index.php/ ... act-thc-sd, which is their standalone THC, for about a year.

I run it with a PMX 45XP and it does work quite well once you become familiar with the settings but one thing is that you have to monitor the torch height and adjust the voltage setting as the consumable wears down or else the torch will eventually shove down into the material. There is no corner lock ability and nothing can be changed "on the fly"..everything has to be programmed in your post processor.

I know a lot of people have had very good success with the Proma 150 http://proma-elektronika.com/index.php/ ... ct-thc-150 running with LinuxCNC. LinuxCNC is a somewhat advanced approach for a first timer, but strides are being taken to make it easier to get up and running. The Proma 150 is harder to get running than the SD but offers a great deal more flexibility to your operation.